Union Twp. authorizes NLFES to submit nearly $700,000 LSA ask for new trucks

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The Union Township Board of Supervisors voted to authorize the Northern Lebanon Fire and Emergency Services to submit a Local Share Account grant request to get five new outfitted fire police pick-up trucks.

Zachary Zerbe with NLFES said they’re asking for $697,870.90, which would be about $140,000 per vehicle.

Zerbe said they submitted for the LSA grant previously and didn’t get it. He said staff members regularly put their lives and equipment at risk when they use the interstate, so they want fire police vehicles to improve safety.

He said that with additional vehicles, helping other municipalities wouldn’t leave the local area without resources.

“We go to the interstate a lot. We’re out there if not once, probably about five times a week,” Zerbe said on Wednesday. “It takes away our resources from our communities that we actually do serve. It’s not really fair to them.”

Supervisors had multiple questions for Zerbe before their vote. They questioned why the organization was going through Union Township rather than the other municipalities they serve, if the township would have any liability, and why the vehicles are so expensive.

Zerbe said they were going through Union Township because of its interstate access, and they are not necessarily expecting to get the entire amount. They’re hoping to get a few hundred thousand dollars to get a couple more vehicles. As for township liability, solicitor Paul Bametzreider said there wouldn’t be any, and Northern Lebanon Fire and Emergency Services would be responsible for filling out the grant application.

Zerbe said that even though the price tag is high, $140,000 per vehicle is fairly inexpensive compared to other department trucks.

“That’s cheap, considering one of our interstate engines that sits out here at Lickdale, the current replacement cost will be 1.2 to 1.4 million,” he said.

NLFES currently has three fire police who would be able to use the vehicles if they receive the funding. Zerbe said they would want to rotate and cycle down the department’s existing apparatuses to get them out of service if they get the money.

“The chance of them getting the full amount is very minimal,” Bametzreider said. “They’d be lucky if they get half.”

In other business, supervisors:

• Approved the subdivision and land development ordinance. Bametzreider said this ordinance is much more involved than the previous one because there are more warehouses and commercial uses coming into the area.
• Heard an update about the solar and data center ordinances. The solar ordinance will be advertised for adoption at the next meeting, and the draft data center ordinance will be ready for review next month, according to Bametzreider.
• Voted to sell the township’s 16-foot Bri Mar trailer for $2,150, which was the higher of two bids.
• Approved the 2026 workers’ compensation and employers’ liability insurance policy, which was quoted at $7,153. Costs dropped by $2,000 compared to 2025 due to there not being any claims in the past five years.
• Announced they will likely be combining the sewer and board of supervisors meetings, likely starting in 2026. Instead of having the sewer meeting, taking a short break, and then starting the supervisors meeting, they will discuss the sewer during the regular board of supervisors meeting.

The Union Township Board of Supervisors will have its next regular monthly meeting at 3111 PA-72 on Nov. 12 after the 6:30 p.m. sewer meeting.