Harmony Fire District is running out of room.

While that's a sign of a dedicated crew of emergency volunteers, it means the district needs more space to operate.

Tim Sapienza, Harmony Fire District president, said district leaders have been planning to construct a new building since the district first formed in 2015.

“We're just totally out of room,” Sapienza said.

“The building that they have is too small,” agreed Greg Such, president of Harmony Borough Council. “Moving seems to be the right idea.”

Such said one of the most important things the district considered when beginning the building project was location.

The fire company covers the communities of Harmony, Zelienople, Jackson and Lancaster. It responds to about 500 calls annually, according to Sapienza, and has about 100 members. Of those members, Sapienza said about 50 are active and 30 are very active.

The site of any new building needs to be accessible and functional.

Luckily, the fire district has somewhere to move to just north of Main Street in Zelienople.

“We have the site below the Bilo plaza,” Sapienza said. “We've been working on that for three years, getting everything approved.”

The spot was used as a salt shed for Zelienople Borough before the borough gave the land to Jackson Township, according to Don Pepe, Zelienople manager. Such said the site is a good choice.

Sapienza said aside from providing more space for equipment, the new building would allow the district to maintain overnight staffing.

He added overnight staff is important to providing the best service possible to communities served by the district.

The fire district is finalizing designs for a new building, according to Sapienza.

To help the fire district make those plans a reality, the company is asking municipal leaders to consider raising the local fire tax to 3 mills.

Harmony and Lancaster township residents currently pay 1.5 mills toward fire protection. Zelienople residents pay 2 mills. Jackson Township couldn't be reached Friday.

In June, members of the fire company asked municipal leaders to consider making the fire district's needs a part of the 2021 budget process.

“We cannot build the building without the increase,” Sapienza said. “We need them all to support (this).”

“I think most of the council members are OK on raising (the tax),” Such said.

Still, Such said the borough will be carefully considering the matter during the budgeting process. Such expects council will listen to a presentation by the company before making a decision.

Pepe said Zelienople council members are in a similar boat. However, they have shown preliminary signs of support. “They offered a vote of support,” Pepe said. “Provided that the other municipalities do that (increase).”

Pepe said raising the millage rate isn't a matter of just voting to do it. It requires “a more formal resolution,” according to borough code.

Pepe said members of council will look closer at the matter during the budgeting process.

Benjamin Kramer, township manager for Lancaster, said Lancaster supervisors will also consider the request closely after hearing from the district formally.

“(After) that formal request in front of the board,” Kramer said.

The 2021 budgeting process will start in earnest over the next few weeks. In general, municipal leaders said they hope to support the fire district's project however they can.

After all, Harmony Fire District provides integral services to a large portion of southwestern Butler County — and beyond.

“It's a great fire district,” Pepe said.

“I think there's been exceptional collaboration (here),” Kramer said. “That collaboration should continue.”