By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer

Hadley Twp. ? Thanks to George Lieber’s persistence, Hadley Township will soon get funds toward the purchase of new fire truck.
This is the second year in a row that Chief Lieber has written a grant to apply for funds from the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Although the grant request was rejected last year, Lieber went back to bat for the department again this year.
Last week, he found out the fire department will receive a grant for $131,400.
‘I was extremely pleased,? said Lieber, who pointed out that the grant amount is nearly the equivalent of one year’s tax collection for fire suppression.
The grant will be used to help purchase a rescue pumper.
‘We have just one pumper now, and we’re getting enough run volume that the odds of having two runs at once is increasing as the area grows,? said Lieber. ‘It’s standard with fire service to have some level of backup.?
In addition to providing backup for the existing pumper, a rescue pumper also will be equipped with the Jaws of Life, and provide more rescue capability.
‘As the traffic volume increases in Hadley, rescue is becoming more and more important,? Lieber said.
The next step toward acquiring the truck is to finish writing specs and acquire bids before ordering. Hadley Township Fire Department has one year to spend the funds.
Lieber has dealt with questions about the origin of the funds, and points out the grant should not be confused with funds received after 9-11.
A check presentation will take place 6:30 p.m. Monday with Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-Harrison Twp.) at the Hadley Township Offices, located at 4293 Pratt Road.