Time is running out for the Port Matilda Volunteer Fire Company.
\nForeclosure looms as the company struggles to raise upwards of $94,000 to make good on back mortgage payments on their firehouse, as well as on debt owed on their tanker truck, \u201cTanker 15-15.\u201d
\nNow, they\u2019re appealing, not only to the people they serve, but to anyone who hears their plea and feels compelled to help.
\n\u201cWe were unable to make balloon payments on our building and tanker by the March 31 deadline,\u201d explained Port Matilda Fire Chief \u201cButch\u201d Rudy. \u201cNow, we\u2019re facing foreclosure and the loss of our tanker.
\n\u201cWe have until the end of this month to make these payments, totaling over $94,000 \u2014 about $67,000 on the tanker and close to $28,000 on the building.\u201d
\nFire officials fear if the company were to be closed, response time in the immediate area of Port Matilda Borough during times of emergency could be lengthened, in some cases, by up to 30 minutes.
\nEarlier last week, the company opted to form a financial advisory board to help sort out the dilemma. The five-member panel, made up of one individual from each municipality the company serves, now holds financial control of the company and is spearheading the effort to save it.
\nLee Pressler, who represents Halfmoon Township, Centre County, will chair the \u201cSave the Fire Company\u201d committee. The other four members are Chris English, Taylor Township; Richard Harpster, Worth Township; Sam Lykens, Port Matilda; and Liz Neff, Huston Township, all in Centre County.
\nThe Port Matilda Fire Company serves Taylor Township jointly with the Bald Eagle Fire Company.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve put out a plea to everyone in our service area to make a donation,\u201d Chief Rudy explained. \u201cWe\u2019ve asked every homeowner and business owner, not to mention those who travel through this area on Routes 550, 322 and 220, on their way to and from work, to make a one-time gift of $50. If this were to happen, it would constitute enough to make the needed payments.
\n\u201cThe advisory board has set up a special account at Omega Bank so people can stop by the Port Matilda Borough branch office and make the donations. People from out of our area can also make donations at any other Omega Bank branch office, as long as they indicate that it\u2019s for the \u2018Save the Fire Company\u2019 fund.\u201d
\nChief Rudy said that, while no official figures are available at the present, preliminary reports indicate that there has been a \u201cdecent response\u201d to the call for help, but the clock continues to tick. Badly needed state funding that would, at least in part, cover debts and expenses, will not come available until July.
\n\u201cOur committee members have been very busy, distributing flyers throughout the neighborhoods, spreading the word,\u201d Rudy said. \u201cWe\u2019re in a critical spot and we\u2019re running very short on time.
\n\u201cWe are the only fire and rescue station in a very rural area. Even if we were to save the building but lose the tanker, it would be a big loss. That tanker carries 1,800 gallons of water to supply our pumper; it\u2019s a vital tool.\u201d
\nThe financial advisory board has set four goals: Save the building; pay outstanding debts, such as utilities; save the tanker and pay bills ahead through July. If these goals are met, the company will be able to turn to local state legislators for available funding.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re looking to anyone who can help and we know there are plenty of people out there, even out of our area, who would want to help,\u201d Rudy said. \u201cWe provide needed services for the surrounding communities. It\u2019s very important that we\u2019re able to continue providing those services.\u201d
\nTo make a contribution by mail, send your check to: Port Matilda Fire Company, Save the Fire Company Fund, P.O. Box 155, Port Matilda, PA 16870, or stop by any Omega Bank branch office. Remember to indicate your gift is for the Port Matilda Fire Company Fund.
\n– – – – –
\nOn The Net:
\nPort Matilda Fire Company: www.portmatilda.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Time is running out for the Port Matilda Volunteer Fire Company. Foreclosure looms as the company struggles to raise upwards of $94,000 to make good on back mortgage payments on their firehouse, as well as on debt owed on their tanker truck, \u201cTanker 15-15.\u201d Now, they\u2019re appealing, not only to the people they serve, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news-in-the-tyrone-pennsylvania-area"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43067","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43067\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}