Lehighton has taken the next step toward the acquisition of a new pumper truck for the Lehighton Fire Department.

Borough council on a 5-0 vote Monday adopted an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $785,345 principal payment on the new pumper apparatus.

Councilmen Grant Hunsicker and Joe Flickinger were absent.

Last month, borough council on a unanimous measure agreed to finance a new pumper truck for the department.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire said that as of Feb. 1, the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner raised the maximum 2% loan amount for a heavy duty rescue apparatus to $353,547, which is $13,547 more than the borough anticipated.

The borough will put $200,000 down from the borough’s fire apparatus fund.

Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank will pay the vendor before construction of the truck, so the borough will receive the manufacturer’s $97,285 discount for paying in full.

The cost is $1,082,630, and the borough will be financing $431,798 at 4.49% for 18 years through JTNB. The annual payment is not to exceed $44,536.

DeWire said the $353,547 through the state will be financed at 2% for 20 years, with annual payments not to exceed $21,000.

The total annual cost to the borough is about $65,000.

Previously, council voted to approve a 1-mill tax increase, slated to bring in about $80,000 per year, for the fire apparatus.

DeWire said at that time the $15,000 difference, along with money the borough is currently putting into the apparatus fund, will allow it to replenish that emergency reserve for fire vehicles at a rate of $25,000 per year.

He said at then that since the millage will cover the equipment and the borough has the money for the down payment in reserves, there would be no negative effects to the borough’s finances.

Borough fire Chief Patrick Mriss thanked borough council for the investment in the new apparatus.

Mriss said that hopefully the borough can avoid the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions requirements for the diesel engines if the vehicle is started before Jan. 27, 2027.

The borough applied for a grant for the truck, but did not receive one.