Lansford Borough Council is not satisfied with working conditions in the borough police station.

Council members are currently looking at the cost of a renovation project, while considering other options.

Borough Council agreed on Monday to have its engineer, Arro Consulting, prepare plans for a possible renovation of the police station, located in the basement of the borough hall at Tunnel and Ridge streets.

“We need to know, renovate versus new, which way we should go,” said Gwyneth Collevechio, member of Lansford Borough Council.

The police station still has damage from a sewage backup, which occurred earlier this year. Officials say the wooden floor needs to be replaced.

Mayor Michele Bartek, who is leaving office at the end of the year, brought an estimate to council for the repairs, as well as private bathroom/changing facilities for officers.

The estimate was about $40,000, but Council President Bruce Markovich thought it would cost more because of prevailing wage.

Bartek said officers shouldn’t have to share facilities with the people they’re arresting, and should be able to change out of their uniforms before going home.

“For safety’s sake, they should not be using the same facilities as someone we’re bringing in,” she said.

Councilman John Turcmanovich said that the department really needs a holding cell. Currently, people in the department’s custody are handcuffed to a bench, which he said has been ripped out repeatedly.

Council has some money available for projects - COVID-19 relief funds and the proceeds from the recent sale of the Panther Creek railroad.

But they are trying to determine if the current building is the best way to use it. Bartek said that the building was only meant to be a temporary home.

The borough recently acquired the former Silberline Industries facility in the borough, which has offices.

Bartek said the Silberline property has more office space available, and space for an impound lot, which could create revenue for the department.

Markovich said that while the current facilities aren’t cutting it, the offices at the Silberline property could be worth more if the borough rents or sells it to a business.

“Moving the police station down there, I don’t think would financially be a good move for us,” he said.