By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER

marcie@bradfordera.com

A study has been commissioned for a potential new City of Bradford fire station combining both current sites into one, which would be at the front area of Hanley Park on Davis Street.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Bradford City Council approved a measure accepting a quote and approving payment of $16,322 to E&M Engineers for preliminary surveying, basic drawings and engineering services necessary for a potential new fire station.

The funding for the study is from a grant obtained through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.

On Wednesday, Mayor Tom Riel said the key word is potential, noting that it is not a certainty that a new station would be possible at this time.

This study ‘will be with a basic design to get the process going,’ he noted.

City administrator and former fire chief Eric Taylor explained more about it.

‘The goal is to build a new fire station, but we want to do it in a way that limits the cost to our residents,’ he said. ‘We are exploring multiple funding sources and have applied for some grants and will apply for other ones as they open.

‘Step one in the process is to get the preliminary site survey done.

This is being funded by a grant that we were awarded through the PA Fire Commissioners office.’

He continued, ‘The goal would be to combine both stations into one centrally located building. The site will be the front area of Hanley Park on Davis Street.’

Also on Wednesday, Fire Chief Brett Butler said, ‘We have submitted multiple grants that, if awarded, would provide the majority of the funding for a new fire station.

Station… page A-8

ABOVE: Bradford City Fire Department’s Central Fire Station at 25 Chestnut St.

Era photos by Sara Furlong

BELOW: Hanley Park on Davis Street.

We have been discussing for a few years now the need for a new building. Our equipment is outgrowing our current building, which is the main issue, aside from the building being over 100 years old.”

Central Fire Station is on Chestnut Street, while the East Bradford Station is on East Main Street across from Togi’s.

“Central and East Bradford were built for horse drawn fire apparatus, not for our heavy and much larger equipment, not to mention the inefficiency of the current buildings,” the chief continued. “A new building would be much more cost effective to operate. We are able to maintain the buildings we have but as they age it has become much more difficult and costly.”

He explained how they decided on the proposed site on Davis Street. Discussions in the past had centered around the train tracks running through Bradford and potential delays in response times.

“The proposed site was settled on after looking at other options that allowed us to stay centrally located and offered multiple routes of access to each part of the city, whether a street or bridge is closed, or a train is crossing,” Butler said. “The Hanley Park location allows multiple routes of travel.

“The other necessary factor is that the city needs to own the land to apply for the majority of the funding, so that made choosing a site a little more difficult. There will be minimal impact to the park. The plan is actually to possibly enhance Hanley Park in the process, but nothing there is for sure yet,” he explained.

“This project is heavily based on grant money and funding. The goal is minimal impact to the city and the taxpayers,” the chief stressed. “When we met with engineers and builders, rehabbing the current stations was discussed. However, it was determined that rehabbing still restricts our ability to enhance space and would likely be much more costly. If we are successful and can build a new building, the goal would be for someone to be able to find a purpose for our current buildings and be able to keep the history of the buildings alive. As old as they are, they still can be utilized for some things, but we are just outgrowing the buildings.”

Also relating to the fire department, council approved an agreement to provide Keating Township with emergency ambulance services for the year for $26,315. This is the second year for such an agreement, as the city entered into one in July 2024 to serve the township for the remainder of the year for around $10,000.

In other business, a subdivision of lands owned by the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corp. was approved on the south side of West Washington Street between Harding Avenue and Hobson Place. Single family homes will be constructed there.

Repairs and improvements at Callahan Park were approved by the council members.

At last month’s meeting, officials discussed ruptured water pipes and a failed heating system at the ice rink. On Tuesday, the board approved a bill for $7,364.55 to Ebeling Plumbing & Heating LLC for repairs to the steam boiler pipes in the pool house. A.W. Pantuso HVAC was paid $1,015.84 for repairs to the water pipes.

As for improvements, council authorized the Office of Economic and Community Development to advertise for bids for work to be performed at the park, including “new picnic shelters, concrete walkway improvements, a new restroom facility, reconstruction of the parking lot at the Poplin Avenue entrance, a new park entrance sign, and new park amenities,” the resolution stated.

The project will be paid for with funds from Community Development Block Grants, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, McKean County ARPA grant, Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grants and donated funds.

Also for Callahan Park, council accepted a quote from Ely Associates for $11,287 for new drinking fountains. A quote from MRC Recreation for new benches, trash receptacles and grills for the park was approved at a cost of $13,592.04. The projects will be paid for with funds from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and from McKean County ARPA grants.

Council approved two bids for demolishing blighted structures, both to 6V Excavation. One was for 188 E. Main St. at $3,935 and the second for 40 Walker Ave. at a cost of $6,467.

Dresser Way was approved by council as a private road.