Bowmanstown has applied for a grant to replace its fire company.

Borough council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to ratify a resolution authorizing the submittal of Redevelopment Assistance Capital Budget Program Grant application for the replacement of the fire company.

Last month, council applied for a Local Share Assessment fund for replacement of its fire company as it stands.

Council said the move was to support the fire company in their grant for the fire company as it stands.

In September, council applied for a grant to have its borough building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A proposal letter was submitted with a cost estimate for a Keystone grant to cover the nomination form for the borough hall building.

The borough hall building is a converted school building that was constructed in 1903 to serve the youths of the community.

In August, council on a 4-0 vote agreed to pursue the matter in the hope it will lead to the distinction, as the National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.

Councilwoman Kara Scott said at that time that while she wants to see the fire department get the grant money for a new fire station, she worries what may become of the borough hall building.

Resident Kerry Solt told council he would hate to see the current borough hall building be turned into apartments, as it’s a landmark.

Scott said to her, “this building is almost iconic.”

Mayor Zach Snyder said that while he understood those concerns, he was looking more long-term.

Snyder said that even if the borough would no longer use the building as borough hall, that doesn’t mean the borough has to sell it.

Councilman Rob Moyer said the borough hall building is lacking because it’s an older building.

Project Engineer Eric Snyder, who is assisting in the grant application writing, said the goal is to get two separate grants; an LSA grant for 50%, and a RAC-P grant for 50%.

The proposed plan would be for the new station to be located above the picnic grove on Lime Street.

The existing fire station would be torn down and made into a parking lot.

The estimated cost of the project is between $1.5 million and $1.6 million, and wouldn’t reach completion for about three to five years.

The plan is to build one large fire station, and to apply for an LSA grant to fund the entire project.

Fire Chief Michael Spairana Jr. has stressed that the fire company would not go forward with a new fire station unless it receives 100% funding.