It wasn’t a “Santa Run,” but it may have been the next best thing for the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company.

Western firefighters, who nearly filled the seating area of the meeting room of the township municipal building, applauded when the Salisbury Township board of commissioners voted at its May 26 meeting to approve three key measures for Western’s Swain Station project.

Commissioners voted 4-1, with one commissioner absent, for:

- A resolution to approve the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company land development plan of 950 S. Ott St.

The land development plan was recommended for approval by commissioners by the township planning commission. The township zoning hearing board also voted to approve the plan.

Commissioner Alok Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alex Karol, to bring the resolution to a vote.

“It’s been reviewed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission,” Salisbury Township Consulting Engineer David J. Tettemer of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Inc. said.

Tettemer listed the three waivers approved by the township planners:

- Separate preliminary and final plans

- Showing features within 100 feet of the site

- Erosion control plan by the Lehigh County Conservation District

“They’re removing the old building and adding the new building on impervious surfaces,” Tettemer said.

- A motion to approve the deed revisions, updated Jan. 24, between Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company and The Swain School for the property located at 950 S. Ott St.

Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Heather Lipkin, to bring the motion to a vote.

“We had obviously a long negotiation and all parties have come to a resolution,” Salisbury Township Solicitor Attorney John W. Ashley said.

The concern had to do with a reverter clause that would have deeded the land for Swain Station back to The Swain School, which donated it, should its use stop as an EMS facility.

- A motion to commit up to $2.7 million to guarantee repayment of a loan for the construction of a new fire station at 950 S. Ott St., provided all legal compliance guidelines are met.

Patnaik made the motion, seconded by Karol, to bring the motion to a vote.

“We’re still exploring all options, including USDA,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said.

Western Salisbury is in discussions with two financial institutions to obtain financing for the $3.1 million project. Western has raised $400,000 for the project.

“We don’t see any problems with working it into our debt coverage,” Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said.

John Kelly Jr., Western Salisbury board of directors member, trustee and life member, thanked the commissioners for approving the resolution and two motions for the Swain Station.

“We’re very excited to be at this stage,” Kelly said on behalf of the firefighters.

The firefighters in attendance applauded the commissioners.

At the May 12 workshop, according to a presentation by Western officials, after the Swain Station is demolished, a new two-story station will be constructed on the site from March to October 2023.

Salisbury Township could finance approximately $2.7 million of the Swain project with a 30-year loan at 4 percent interest for an annual cost of approximately $154,000.

Western firefighters will answer calls out of the Eisenhower Station, 3425 Eisenhower Avenue, during demolition, construction and until the opening of the new Swain Station. Plans are to sell the Eisenhower Station once the new Swain Station is operational.

Western Salisbury safety officer, board of directors member and trustee Jerry Royer made the Swain Station project presentation during the May 12 township commissioners’ workshop of the construction plan by Ronald Jerdon, president, Jerdon Construction Services, LLC, Allentown.

An artist’s rendering of the facade of the prefabricated metal building and a diagram of 11,343-square-foot Swain Station was displayed May 12.

The new station can accommodate four parallel-parked fire engines. There will be a 30-by-20-foot training room, first-floor decontamination area, two bathrooms, shower, washing machine, office, gym, day room and an American with Disabilities Act-compliant elevator.

The Swain Station project plan received approval from the township zoning hearing board April 13 and was recommended to commissioners for approval by the township planning commission April 27.

Board of commissioners Vice President Rodney Conn chaired the May 26 meeting in the absence of President Debra Brinton.

The Salisbury Township board of commissioners is next scheduled to meet 7 p.m. June 9 in the meeting room of the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.