They have a borough building, albeit with no running water or restrooms.

Just across the way sits an old schoolhouse they use as their fire department, even as portions of its interior continues to crumble.

Those are only a few of the reasons why Parryville officials remain hopeful the borough will qualify for funding to construct a proposed multiuse building that would house a new fire station, borough hall and emergency shelter.

Members of Parryville Fire Company No. 2 previously met with borough representatives to discuss their request for a new pole building, which is estimated to cost about $1.3 million.

The new building would be constructed on property to the east of the current fire company on Main Street, according to project engineer Eric Snyder, of Keystone Consulting Engineers Inc.

Snyder, who also serves as the borough’s engineer, is assisting both parties with the grant writing.

He said the basement would be the borough hall/emergency shelter; the middle floor would be the fire department and multipurpose room, and the top story would be for storage.

Borough council President Cathy Hawk said the fire department has submitted its RAC-P grant application, and added it plans to submit the Local Share Assessment grant application.

Hawk said the RAC-P grant would cover 50% of the cost, while the LSA grant would cover the other 50% of the cost.

She said if the funding comes through, the projected completion date for the new building would be the end of 2022.

Hawk said the project would benefit not only the borough, but Carbon County as well.

“With the emergency shelter being part of the plans, we feel this could have a needed impact on our neighboring communities in their times of crisis,” Hawk said.

Greg White, captain/president of the fire company, said he believes a new fire station would be extremely beneficial to the community.

“It’s to try to attract new firefighters and members,” White said.

Mayor Tom Kobal, who is also lieutenant and trustee with the fire company, said the current fire company would stay in existence until a new Parryville Fire Company No. 2 could be built.

“We want to try and bring more to the community,” Kobal said. “Let the other communities know we do exist.”

A former school building, Kobal said the plan is to preserve the fire company building’s historical artifacts by placing them in a new station, and added they would also like to build a nice wrap around deck overlooking the Gap,

“The old building that we’re in is a great historical building, but the building is crumbling,” he said. “We’re out there saving lives, but the building is killing us with the black mold and everything.”

Hawk said the borough building on Centre Street currently serves as a public meeting facility, despite the fact it has no running water or restrooms.

As a result, visitors must go outside to the deluxe portable toilet.

That building, which at one time housed Parryville Fire Company No. 1, would remain and be used as a maintenance shed, borough officials said.

Mike Kunkle, borough fire chief/treasurer, said the fire company currently has about 50 members, 19 of which are active firefighters, including four junior firefighters.

Kunkle said the fire company holds a breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon the first Sunday of each month at the fire station. A block party is scheduled for June 12-13.

Kobal said the hope is that a new facility would help pave the way for future generations of firefighters.

“We’re looking to build a newer building to attract new, younger firefighters when us older firefighters retire,” he said.

“We deserve something new in the town, and this would be the perfect start.”