MOUNT CARMEL - After a long wait, Anthracite Steam and Fire Company's new ladder truck will soon be home.
Renovations to accommodate the 11-foot, 8-inch-tall unit in the firehouse garage that started July 8 should be done by the end of the month.
A majority of the floor and steel beams that once supported it have already been ripped out. After a new concrete floor is given time to fully cure, the truck could be moved in by the end of September, said Jack Williams Jr., Mount Carmel Fire Department second assistant fire chief.
"I can't wait until it's done," he said Tuesday. "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel now."
The 2011 KME Arielcat, which has a ladder that can extend to 100 feet, was built to 2010 National Fire Protection Agency standards and, as such, was too tall for Anthracite's station, located on Market Street near town park. Anthracite officials went ahead with the purchase, knowing they would have lost $500,000 worth of grant money had they not purchased the $700,000 truck when they did.
The truck has been stored at the Mount Carmel Rescue Squad truck room for more than two years. Completion of the project will alleviate the inconvenience to both parties, and the rescue squad has said the heavy truck damaged its property.
After considerable debate on how to solve the problem, which included concerns that the unique look of the Anthracite building not be altered, Mid-Penn Engineering, Lewisburg, devised a plan: fill in the basement area below the Anthracite two-bay truck room floor and in the process lower the floor by 2 feet. That has also required lowering the sidewalk area that connects Market Street to the garage entrance, but it is being done while maintaining a 1 degree slope away from the building.
While work continues at the fire station, Anthracite's pumper truck is being housed in a building owned by Joseph Stutz at Fourth and Orange streets. Stutz isn't charging Anthracite, nor is the rescue squad.
"The Anthracite members greatly appreciate Joe Stutz and the rescue squad for offering the buildings to us," said Williams, who is also an Anthracite member.
In January, borough council approved a resolution to loan the fire company $188,000. The 10-year loan at an annual interest rate of 1 percent helped pay off another $101,000 loan for the ladder truck, and the rest is being put toward the renovation work, which was estimated at $137,000. Anthracite put up the rest of the money for the project.
Anthracite will be paying $19,780 a year on the $188,000 loan.
Electrical, plumbing and carpentry for the project is being done by Anthracite members, and the Robert Feaster Corp., Northumberland, is handling the rest of the work, Williams said.
There have been temporary traffic pattern changes while the work takes place, he said.