Palmerton has received additional funding to replace its tot lot in the borough park.

Borough Councilman Jason Behler noted at Thursday's meeting that the borough has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Horsehead Community Development Fund to replace the tot lot at the playground.The fund was formed in 1990 and has donated over $3 million to community organizations.This marked the second source of funding this year the borough has received for the tot lot structure.In February, members of the Pace-Makers Association of Palmerton presented a check in the amount of $11,135 to council for the new tot lot play structure.That came after council in November agreed to apply to the Pace-Makers Association for the grant. The organization raises funds for recreation purposes.The playground equipment in the park was installed in the mid-1990s.Borough Manager Rodger Danielson said the equipment had begun to deteriorate over the years.CDBG hearingAt the onset of the meeting, council held its first public hearing on Community Development Block Grant funds for 2015.The hearing was conducted by Ryan Richards from the Carbon County Office of Planning and Development.Richards said the borough is set to receive about $93,057 in CDBG funds this year.Of that, Richards said $76,307 would be for project implementation, while $16,750 would be for administrative costs.Danielson noted the borough has several blighted properties that are deemed uninhabitable.Other businessCouncil:• Agreed to spend $8,600 to replace the back steps outside the gymnasium at borough hall. Danielson said Pencor Construction will demolish the old steps and put in new precast steps.• Rejected a land development plan at 493 Delaware Ave.• Hired Jourdan Reinhart and Zachary Svetik as summer employees. Reinhart will be paid $7.50 an hour, while Svetik will receive $7.25 an hour.