Bowmanstown borough council on Tuesday granted the fire company permission request to apply for the Local Share Account Statewide Grant through the borough.

The grant closes March 15. The vote was 5-0, with council members William Ravert and Candace Rodrigues absent.

In November, council ratified a resolution authorizing the submittal of a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Budget Program Grant application for the replacement of the fire company.

That came after council in October applied for a Local Share Assessment fund for replacement of its fire company as it stands.

Last month, council tabled applying for consultant fees under the historical grant for Bowmanstown Borough Hall.

Council had previously authorized borough treasurer/assistant secretary Tara Takerer to apply for consultant fees under the historical grant.

However, a quote came in at $16,200. The borough would have to pay over $8,000 to have it completed since the grant is a 50/50 match.

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

Councilwoman Kara Scott said listing on the national registry would allow the borough more access to getting grant money.

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 listing borough hall on the National Register of Historic Places, which is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.

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.

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

At that time, Scott expressed her desire to see the borough pursue the grants with the hope it will lead to the distinction.

Scott said she was concerned about the playgrounds and basketball courts, which she said are used heavily. She said “this building is almost iconic.”

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.

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.