Mifflinburg to pursue sidewalk renovation for fire company truck
Jun. 21—MIFFLINBURG — Mifflinburg Borough Council rejected all bids to renovate the Mifflinburg Hose Company garage on Chestnut Street, but will move forward with a plan to renovate the sidewalk.
At Tuesday night's public meeting, borough council members made the decision not to move forward with the Fire Hall Door Replacement Project for the fire company at 325 Chestnut St. The lowest bid for the project from Martin Construction, of Mifflinburg, came in at $122,981 — double the project estimate.
"At the May council meeting, council decided to table the discussion and did not make an award of the project at that time," project manager Robert Rowe said. "They wanted to confer with Mifflinburg Hose Company before making a final decision on the project. After conferring with MHC at the June Council work session, they thought then enough information was in hand that they could make a decision on the project at the regular June Council meeting held on Tue. Council voted to reject all bids for the door reconfiguration project."
Council members asked Rowe to pursue a setback or sloped curb/sidewalk project on the opposite side of the street from MHC to allow fire trucks to more easily maneuver backing into the station house versus the overhead door project, said Rowe.
The fire department needs a plan because the incoming new ladder truck will be too big when it arrives in 2025. The fire company ordered a 100-foot aerial truck for $1.4 million and a new engine truck for $800,000 last year. However, the ladder truck is too large to fit in the bay garage as it is currently constructed with three other trucks.
"At our work session, some of the fire company representatives came in," Council President Beverly Hackenberg said. "We asked them which they felt would be better with the truck, and they felt the curb cut would be better. I feel whatever the fire company feels is the best solution. We're going by their recommendation."
