Lehighton Fire Department has regained a portion of a bay to store fire apparatus.

On a narrow 4-3 vote, borough council on Monday agreed to allow for the redesignation of the front of the apparatus bay in former engine station No. 2, current police station, for the use of the fire department.

Councilmen Joe Flickinger, Donnie Rehrig, and Darryl Arner, along with council President Grant Hunsicker were in favor. Councilman Ryan Saunders, along with Councilwomen Autumn Abelovsky and Lisa Perry were opposed.

Council’s decision means that the fire department will have the front half of the bay, and the police department the back half of the bay.

Borough fire Chief Pat Mriss said the fire department is scheduled to take ownership of its new truck at KME in Nesquehoning on Friday.

“The workmanship; the employees poured their hearts and souls into it,” Mriss said. “It is sad to see the situation with KME leaving.”

Dozens of workers last Friday completed their final shift at KME in Nesquehoning.

That included wrapping up work on the final vehicle to come out of the facility - a 109-foot rear mount ladder truck for Lehighton Fire Department.

At a special meeting Nov. 10, 2016, council agreed to have the police department take over the old Engine Company No. 2 bay, with work and the move to be done gradually.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said at that time $15,000 was allocated in the 2017 budget for the work.

The police station took the bay and the upstairs of the old Engine Company No. 2 building, while the fire department still had access to the hose and engine rooms, and still occupied a space in the building.

In May 2016, about 30 members of the fire department attended the council meeting with concerns that the police department wanted to use the entire bay.

Police Chief Brian Biechy said at that time the police department used half the bay, which it shared with the fire department. The bay was used for parking.

Assistant fire Chief Michael Mriss said then the area was used to store apparatus, hose, wash and dry hose, complete equipment and apparatus maintenance and repair, store the inventory of Personal Protective Equipment among other things.

Biechy said at that time the police department was continuing to grow, but lacked the proper space to do so.

The police department moved into the former Lehighton Fire Company building at 124 S. Third St. in 2011.

The building bears the name of former Lehighton Borough Mayor William “Cap” Bauchspies.