Built in 1980, this fire station is slated to receive renovations to the dormitory.
Harrisburg’s two fire stations will receive a $250,000 grant to update the 1980s-era facilities.
This morning, the Dauphin County commissioners unanimously voted to approve this grant and 48 others, which come from a fund generated by revenue at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The unanimous vote came after the commissioners reviewed the Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board’s award recommendations last week.
The $250,000 is earmarked to renovate Fire Station #2’s roof and the dormitories in Fire Stations #1 and #2, both built in 1980.
“Really, the projects we have are overwhelming,” said Brian Enterline, Fire Bureau Chief. “We are just trying to hammer away and get the most bang for the buck.”
The current dormitories lack privacy, Enterline said. Right now, 16 beds sit in large, square rooms in each fire station. The renovation plans include adding walls to divide the space and installing locker rooms, he said.
“We are trying to utilize the most space possible so we don’t have a ton of wasted space,” he said. “Right now, we have a ton of wasted space.”
This will be the first major change to the dormitories since the stations were constructed, he said.
The roof renovation for Fire Station #2 includes incorporating aspects of Capital Region Water’s community greening project, an environmentally friendly way of managing stormwater runoff.
Enterline said the last roof renovation was in 1988 and now its deteriorating state threatens to lead to leaks and damages.
“Everything is original. It’s been a real challenge,” Enterline said. “We are trying to do projects as we get the money to do them, and we are trying to be the best stewards of that money.”
This funding is part of $5.6 million county-wide grants generated from a tax on Hollywood Casino in accordance with the Pennsylvania Gaming Act. A September State Supreme Court ruling 
determined this act violated the state constitution, leaving the future of the grant program in jeopardy.
Hollywood Casino agreed to provide grants for the first half of 2017, said Jeff Haste, chairman of the county board of commissioners.
“If it was not for Penn National Gaming coming forward … being a good partner in the community, [these grants would not happen],” Haste said at today’s meeting.
The casino has made $150 million in local-share grants since its opening in 2008, said Mike Pries, board of commissioners vice president.
“If we didn’t do these gaming grants, the cost would be passed onto the taxpayers,” he said, with Haste adding that the grants give local municipalities leverage to receive additional funds.
Enterline also doesn’t want to see this funding disappear.
“The Fire Bureau has always gotten great support from the [Gaming Advisory Board],” he said. “It’s a huge benefit for our city, the region and everybody.”
These other local projects will receive funding:
- $350,000 to Dauphin County Parks & Recreation for Detweiler Park acquisition
- $163,236 to Susquehanna Township for public safety building debt reduction
- $151,000 to Lower Swatara Township for bridge replacement and fire apparatus debt reduction
- $140,650 to Paxtang Borough and Central Dauphin School District for school building safety improvements
- $217,100 to Lower Paxton Township for park playground project, Penn Colonial Pool improvements and Linglestown Fire Co. Building improvement
- $39,250 to Steelton Borough for firefighting equipment replacement
- $110,154 to Swatara Township for water rescue response boat and vehicle and Reliance Hose Co. Station improvements
- $55,000 to Penbrook Borough for Elm Street Park improvements
- $43,152 to Highspire Borough for firefighting equipment
- $30,000 to Dauphin County Human Services to purchase a van for transportation program
- $200,000 to Dauphin County Court Administration for the construction of MDJ buildings
- $127,000 to Dauphin County Conservation District for agricultural stewardship project
- $69,001 to Dauphin County Land Bank Authority to renovate two vacant homes
- $100,000 to PinnacleHealth for an addiction and substance abuse urgent care clinic
- $33,000 to Dauphin County General Authority for maintenance equipment acquisition
- $35,000 to Steelton Borough/Homeland Center for upgrades to emergency back-up generator
- $70,000 to Salvation Army for new headquarters and services facility
- $50,000 to Steelton Borough/Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg for John Hall Clubhouse renovation
- $50,000 to Steelton Borough/Monumental AME Church for HVAC upgrade and boiler removal
- $26,204 to Susquehanna Township/Jewish Family Services for headquarters renovations
- $35,000 to Susquehanna Township/American Literacy Corps for Books in Barbershops program
Author: Danielle Roth
