Jim Thorpe's Phoenix Hose Company building at 173 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe, is being put up for sale.

At last week's meeting of the borough council, it was decided to sell the building via sealed bid.The council said it has an appraisal for the building.Councilman John McGuire voted to put the building up for sale while Jay T. Miller, a longtime member of the Jim Thorpe Fire Department, seconded the motion."We have an appraisal. We know what it's worth," said Miller.In July 2015, it was determined that the Phoenix Hose Company and the Diligent Fire Company in the Heights section of town were in need of major repairs. At that time, it was estimated repairs to the two structures would cost $200,000.Both buildings were constructed in the late 1800s.It's the second of the original four fire stations that once existed in Jim Thorpe to be sold. Some years ago, the borough sold the Marion Hose Company on Broadway.In other fire company business, Kay Henritzy, sister-in-law of fire Chief Bill Diehm, said she was upset about comments made about Diehm at the August meeting of the council.She labeled Diehm an "upstanding, honest man.""He deserves a public apology," said Henritzy.McGuire said he was the one who made the comment, stating, "I am sorry a comment like that got in the paper. I do apologize for that."McGuire was quoted as saying last month, ""I have great respect for Bill, but there are a ton of issues with the fire department right now and the buck stops at the top. The person at the top has to change. Bill would be suited for assistant chief, but he shouldn't be the top man."At that meeting, the council named Diehm as fire chief by 4-1 vote with McGuire opposed. Vincent Yaich was named assistant chief. It was stated Yaich didn't want to be the chief.McGuire said, "I respect Bill Diehm."He then said there's a discipline issue and a safety issue "that the chief has to handle. If the chief doesn't handle it, then we have to take it over."Henritzy said the fire department consists of volunteers and if somebody screams in their face, they might refuse to serve.She said of Diehm, "He is a great man not only as my brother-in-law but as a public servant to Jim Thorpe."Diehm did not attend the meeting.McGuire said, "When it doesn't get done at the house level, and it doesn't get done at the chief level, then council has to get involved.""In the last fire we had, there's a laundry list of things that must be taken care of," McGuire said.