Shaking their collective heads in disbelief that bids calling for Phase II renovation to the Carbon County Courthouse Annex in Jim Thorpe came in so high, the county commissioners may have no alternative but to reject the proposal and seek alternative plans.

Bogner, Inc. Hazleton, which has the current contract for the Phase I work, was the apparent low bidder at $1,015,673, a figure that is $42,327 lower than that of the only other bidder, K.J. Miles Construction Co. Shamokin.Meanwhile, rumors are afloat that the county commissioners may be vacating their office suite on the first floor of the courthouse for a move to higher quarters, to the third and top floor of the annex.