Two local businesses have stepped to the plate to pay for a police officer at Jim Thorpe’s upcoming Earth Day event on April 18.

Molly Maguires Pub and Steakhouse and Wildoner Insurance Agency split the $255 bill, one week after event organizers expressed concern about the cost.

“I think it’s a great thing that these community businesses have stepped up to support both this event and our police department,” Greg Strubinger, council president, said during Thursday’s council meeting. “We think these are all really great events, but there is a cost for the police protection. The mayor has challenges with his budget and we appreciate the businesses recognizing that and the support that they’ve come forward with.”

Jim Thorpe’s police department, in conjunction with council, has said they are taking a firmer stand with events this year and the police and public services contracts associated with them. For the Earth Day in particular, police determined only one extra officer would be required for three hours downtown.

Last week, however, event organizer Shelly Holland questioned whether there could be a police rate for nonprofit organizations instead of the current $84.29 per hour.

“It’s great we get a sponsorship, but I’m still hoping that nonprofit rate could be established,” Holland said Thursday night.

“While we’re covered now, the issue is just going to come up again for the next event, which is the Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration.”

Ray Brader, who runs the birthday celebration, said they have historically paid for two officers to lead runners from the mausoleum to Josiah White Park, but said he doesn’t know how much additional support the event could afford.

“We’ve always felt it was nice to have them there and we’ve appreciated the fact that they are there for that amount of time,” Brader said.

While he said he understands the plight of the event organizers, Strubinger added that the borough is not looking to make a profit from either the police or public service contract fees.

“We’re simply just trying to cover costs so that doesn’t fall on the taxpayer,” he said. “I don’t know how we get around that issue.”

The borough is hopeful more contributions like the ones highlighted Thursday night can help alleviate the burden on event organizers with a tight budget.

“I think what Molly Maguires and Wildoner Insurance are doing shows that there are alternate sources of funding for what is needed and I think we need to continue looking at some of that,” Mayor Michael Sofranko said.