Although the two Holland fire board members, Bob Stupi and Jerome Pedretti, admitted the new aerial ladder truck was needed, they objected to how the purchase is to be financed.

They preferred the fire department lease with a possible option to buy the truck instead of requiring each fire board member municipalities fund a third of the purchase cost.

The cost of the new truck will be divided equally among the three member municipalities with each responsible for around $288,000.

On the "working" side of the station, the department now has a decontamination area for those returning from calls, more space in its apparatus bays, a storage room specifically for fire gear, a dedicated room for report writing, a workout and training room that could someday be converted into an apparatus bay, sleeping areas, locker rooms and a large commons and kitchen area for employees. Screens in the station show current weather, traffic and staffing conditions but then flash to a map showing the location of an emergency call when it comes in.