Maybe the second time will be the charm for Nesquehoning Hose Company's proposed building expansion project.

Fire Chief John McArdle asked Nesquehoning Borough Council Wednesday if it would renew the application for gaming money for the fire department's proposed expansion. The borough tried for the money last year, but was denied.The project, estimated to cost nearly $500,000, will include fixing the drainage problem on the fire company property, constructing a retaining wall and building two new bays to accommodate fire apparatus.McArdle said the company may not get the full amount at once, so the project would possibly need to be completed over a few year period.Council, which submitted the initial grant application on behalf of the fire company, approved the request to renew the application.In other matters, council acted or discussed the following items:• Mayor Samuel Kitchko reported that for the month of July, the police collected $2,509.60, issued 73 citations, had 456 incidents reported, and drove 3,857 miles on patrol.• Hired Lehigh Engineering as the as needed engineer for the proposed county multiuse fire training facility.• Approved the rates for emergency service equipment use when crews gets called out to emergency scenes. Rates that residents will be charged are hourly for trucks and range from $150 to $350; and absorbent material, $45 or $55 a bag or gallon.• The next neighborhood watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the borough hall. The meeting was rescheduled from Sept. 8 because of a conflict.• A budget planning meeting for council to begin preparing the 2016 spending plan will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 15.