The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 at its July 14 meeting to approve funding for the township fire department, which will see updates and upgrades to the fire training center.

Whitehall Township Fire Chief Mark Bilder said he seeks to use the funding to build a more modern and newer classroom for the students at the fire training center, located on Lehigh Street. Bilder said the current building that sits on the property has been standing for about 30 years.

He said that the building should be redone, as one typically doesn’t last more than 20 years. Bilder reported the department is experiencing issues with the current classroom, including water leaks. He said the township and public works have been sent to address the problem, but it persists.

According to Bilder, it would cost around $280,000 to build a new classroom with the added features. He said he would like to add a basement in the same building as the classroom, so that he can get rid of the sheds that sit on the property. He would keep the buildings next to the sheds, since they use them for fire simulators.

The total cost that was approved by Lehigh County was $266,496.50, according to supporting documentation. This amount of money was approved as a no-match grant, and Bilder clarified they didn’t have to provide any funding toward the grant.

The new classroom would sit atop the hill, next to the cemetery, and will include a basement.

Bilder said they began the early planning stages of this project at the beginning of this year, obtaining estimated prices and other requirements before the development begins. They are still in early stages.

Bilder estimated the classroom will be completed next year, after the details and development are completed.