Nesquehoning Hose Company is expanding its building to accommodate its apparatus.

In July, it was awarded $198,835 through the Monroe County Local Share Account grant for the project, which calls for excavating an existing embankment on the south side of the property as well as building a retaining wall to correct the drainage problem onto Route 209, and constructing a 36-by-60-foot two-bay addition onto the existing firehouse to store the department's equipment and vehicles.The total price tag for the project is just under $500,000, meaning that the fire company will need to complete the project in phases.On Wednesday, Shawn McArdle, captain of the fire department, approached borough council, thanking them for their support and then asking officials to again support the volunteer fire department by applying on the company's behalf for the remaining $298,215 through the next LSA grant round, which is due Sept. 30.Council approved the request 5-0 with councilmen Don DeMarco and David DeMelfi absent.McArdle said last month that the nearly $200,000 will cover phase one, which will be site preparation work. Phases two and three of the project, if the fire company is successful in securing the full amount for the rest of the project, will include the construction of the two-bay addition onto the existing building; and drainage and paving the property.Lake Hauto hydrantsIn other matters, John McArdle, Nesquehoning Hose Company fire chief, said he received information regarding the Lake Hauto hydrants.He said through discussions with the Lansford-Coaldale Joint Water Authority, it was proposed that a fire hydrant line along Lake Drive in the development would be changed from a 4-inch lateral connecting to the 8-inch main line to a 6-inch or 8-inch lateral and a new hydrant installed to see if that would increase the water flow in the hydrant."I am told they did that in Lansford up at Edgemont and it increased flow by something like 500 to 600 gallons per minute," McArdle said.The issue of water pressure in the hydrants at Lake Hauto has been discussed since last November, when McArdle said the lines are too small to adequately provide enough water to fight a fire at the development, forcing the use of tanker trucks, which would delay a response.