Bowmanstown Volunteer Fire Company is halfway toward its goal of building a new fire station.

It was announced at last week’s borough council meeting that the fire company received a grant for $925,000.

Fire Chief Michael Spairana Jr. said the grant came from statewide gaming from the state Department of Conservation and Economic Development.

Spairana said the cost to build a new fire station is $1.9 million, and that in order for that to occur, the fire company must still receive a grant from either DCED’s Monroe County Local Share Account, or a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Budget Program (RAC-P) grant.

“To do the entire project, we do need to get the other grant,” said Spairana, who then asked council which direction it wanted to go. “We can build (a new fire station) with $925,000.”

Councilman William Ravert asked Spairana what his intentions are if a second grant comes through.

“To me, I think (it’s) in your best interest to see what you can do with all that money,” Ravert said.

Spairana explained why a new fire station is needed.

“There’s no storage in the old facility; there’s the original building (from) sometime in the 1940s, and then there was two more additions to that,” he said. “Every time we made an addition, it was to suit that particular need, and there was not enough money to expand upon that.”

Spairana said currently they have three separate structures tied together “that over time there’s leaks in certain areas of the roof, sometimes walls leak, and sometimes we get water on the floor with no leak above it, those are our issues.”

The building needs many upgrades, Spairana said.

“The heating and air conditioning are antiquated and need to be replaced,” he said.

“The bays are too small for what I have, three trucks in a 2-bay garage, that’s antiquated, storage space is nonexistent.”

That’s why a new building is needed. “All those things and you’re looking at hundreds of thousands of repairs and not really accomplishing anything.”

Borough hall too

Mayor Zach Snyder said he was all for putting borough hall up with the fire station.

“My concern is looking at this 15 years out,” Snyder said. “I would love to see it up there; I think it behooves both parties.”

Councilman Darren Thomas agreed.

However, Councilwoman Kara Scott said she wasn’t so sure. “We don’t know what’s happening down the road,” she said. “This building is going to require maintenance. This building could become our white elephant.”

Thomas shot back “we are currently in the white elephant” and that borough hall’s current location in which council meetings are held still doesn’t meet council needs.

Regardless, Scott said she’s happy for the fire company.

Spairana told council the company has a concept design.

The plan calls for the new station to be above the picnic grove on Lime Street.

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

Spairana has said the fire company would not go forward with a new fire station unless it receives 100% funding.

Snyder then asked if it would be best to put the matter to a vote.

Council President Pam Leiby suggested to Spairana that council take some additional time to deliberate the matter.

“If we table the question tonight and (have council) bring their thoughts to (council’s) next meeting,” Leiby said. “We will have an answer for you next meeting.”

Path to funding

In September, council approved a cooperation agreement between the borough and the Bowmanstown Fire Company after DCED required the agreement between the two parties.

The fire company had submitted a grant in April 2022; however, DCED required a cooperation agreement to the already submitted grant.

In July, council announced that LSA funds were not approved for a new fire station.

The borough received a letter in June from the Commonwealth Financing Authority on its request for financial assistance under the LSA program.

In March 2022, council on a 5-0 vote granted the fire company permission to apply for the LSA Grant through the borough.

Council also requested a RAC-P grant application for the replacement of the fire company.

In February 2022, 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 2021, council applied for a grant to have its borough building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Scott said at that time listing on the national registry would allow the borough more access to grant money.

The borough hall building is a converted school building that was built in 1903.

Council also voted to pursue listing borough hall on the National Register of Historic Places.

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

Scott said she was concerned about the playgrounds and basketball courts, which she said get a lot of use. She said, “This building is almost iconic