Snyder Township supervisors agreed Monday to hold a public hearing on behalf of the Bald Eagle Volunteer Fire Company to aid the company in receiving a lower interest rate loan from the bank.
Snyder Township solicitor Allen Gibboney told supervisors at the meeting that M & T Bank recently contacted the township to see if it would hold a public hearing on behalf of the Bald Eagle Fire Company.
Gibboney said M & T Bank informed him that if the township held a public hearing, the fire company would be eligible for a lower interest rate loan. If the township chose not to hold a hearing, the fire company would get a higher interest rate loan.
Chairman of supervisors, Charlie Diehl, said that agreeing to hold the hearing in no way obligates the township into co-signing for the loan. He said the township already budgeted $35,000 in support this year alone for the fire company.
Supervisors agreed to hold the public hearing for the fire company at the April 3 township meeting.
It was reported in a previous Daily Herald article that the fire company is scheduled to get the loan for a brand new fire truck. Scott Illig, Chief of the Bald Eagle Fire Company, is looking forward to a state of the art customized pumper.
Illig said in a previous Daily Herald article that the truck is being ordered from the Crimson Fire Equipment Company and is being built according to the fire company’s specifications.
The 20-year-old truck the fire company is currently using is going out of certification. The new truck will also be equipped with a light extension tower and space for additional equipment and fire fighters.
Illig said the $416,000 addition to the Bald Eagle Fire Company’s fleet of fire fighting equipment is a worthy investment in the future as the area continues to grow.
The pumper will have equipment boxes installed by the manufacturer, as well as all the gear the fire and rescue people will need to handle a variety of situations. Additionally, there will be room to haul eight fire fighters and their equipment on the truck.
There will also be a light tower that can generate 20,000 watts of power and plenty of foam for accidents where hazardous substances are a factor.
Fire fighters will also have a direction finder on the new machine.
Illig said the money the township budgets for the fire company is used to maintain the building and pay the bills. However, the fire company’s various fundraisers such as gun shows, dinners, and the upcoming Easter Flower Sale actually go into the truck fund.
Membership to the fire company is always open and costs $6 to join.
