Update on Proposed 'Green' Fire Station
Bradford City firefighters are still hoping for a federal grant to help pay for the $6.4 million "green" fire station they want to build.
During a work session prior to Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting coucnilman Ross Neidich, who oversees the fire department, fire chief Boo Coder and firefighter Matt Rettger, who writes grant applications for the department, said they intend to ask council for permission to submit more grant applications.
They also updated council on their grant application and what possible avenues they can take to secure more grant money. Although the proposal wasn't approved by the Department of Homeland Security, Rettger said there's "still $130 million hanging out there."
Rettger said they've been looking into the Kresge Foundation's "Challenge Program" as a possible source for the $750,000 to $1 million for a "green" roof. He added that green grants are available at the state level for the $750,000 to $1 million for the geo-thermal heating system.
Having a green roof involves replacing or supplementing traditional roofing material with vegetation, which prevents rain from quickly running down the roof surface and off site. Water instead percolates through soil and feeds plants in the process. Rettger and Coder said the department would also be able to recycle the water for cleaning of apparatus.
"The last place I saw a sod roof was when I watched 'Dances with Wolves' a couple weeks ago," said Mayor Tom Riel
As for the geo-thermal heating, ground is drilled down to where the temperature is 55 degrees, then it's extracted with a heat pump. Depending on the needs, the temperature would be raised or lowered using supplemental sources.
The Bradford Ranger Station in Marshburg uses geo-thermal heating, Rettger said.
Coder said if they're able to build the proposed station it will be the first of its kind on the East Coast.
"We gave them (Homeland Security) the greenest building you can build," Coder said, adding that that's why costs were driven up.
Although a standard building without environmentally friendly features would cost about $4.9 million, Neidich said the grant applications "steered you in (a green) direction ... The more you did in terms of green, the more points you earned toward the possible getting of the grant."
He added that they thought the greener they went, the better their chances were of getting the Homeland Security grant.
They've also considered working with the Green Building Alliance of Pittsburgh to help secure funding. There is no fee to apply for any of the grants the department is looking into.
Council and Coder agreed that a loan, which the Department of Agriculture is offering, are out of the question.
"We need grant funds," Coder said.
The Department of Agriculture could, however, provide matching grants funds required for some of the other grants.
The deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to make the final grant announcements is September 1.
"I'm optimistic," Coder said. "I think we're going to get it."
During a work session prior to Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting coucnilman Ross Neidich, who oversees the fire department, fire chief Boo Coder and firefighter Matt Rettger, who writes grant applications for the department, said they intend to ask council for permission to submit more grant applications.
They also updated council on their grant application and what possible avenues they can take to secure more grant money. Although the proposal wasn't approved by the Department of Homeland Security, Rettger said there's "still $130 million hanging out there."
Rettger said they've been looking into the Kresge Foundation's "Challenge Program" as a possible source for the $750,000 to $1 million for a "green" roof. He added that green grants are available at the state level for the $750,000 to $1 million for the geo-thermal heating system.
Having a green roof involves replacing or supplementing traditional roofing material with vegetation, which prevents rain from quickly running down the roof surface and off site. Water instead percolates through soil and feeds plants in the process. Rettger and Coder said the department would also be able to recycle the water for cleaning of apparatus.
"The last place I saw a sod roof was when I watched 'Dances with Wolves' a couple weeks ago," said Mayor Tom Riel
As for the geo-thermal heating, ground is drilled down to where the temperature is 55 degrees, then it's extracted with a heat pump. Depending on the needs, the temperature would be raised or lowered using supplemental sources.
The Bradford Ranger Station in Marshburg uses geo-thermal heating, Rettger said.
Coder said if they're able to build the proposed station it will be the first of its kind on the East Coast.
"We gave them (Homeland Security) the greenest building you can build," Coder said, adding that that's why costs were driven up.
Although a standard building without environmentally friendly features would cost about $4.9 million, Neidich said the grant applications "steered you in (a green) direction ... The more you did in terms of green, the more points you earned toward the possible getting of the grant."
He added that they thought the greener they went, the better their chances were of getting the Homeland Security grant.
They've also considered working with the Green Building Alliance of Pittsburgh to help secure funding. There is no fee to apply for any of the grants the department is looking into.
Council and Coder agreed that a loan, which the Department of Agriculture is offering, are out of the question.
"We need grant funds," Coder said.
The Department of Agriculture could, however, provide matching grants funds required for some of the other grants.
The deadline for the Department of Homeland Security to make the final grant announcements is September 1.
"I'm optimistic," Coder said. "I think we're going to get it."
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