It won’t be long before the Palmerton police station has an adequate space to temporarily house prisoners.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Thursday agreed to purchase a holding cell in the amount of $17,149 from Josh Reichard’s Home Improvements.

Councilman Cory Kepner said the borough received three quotes.

Council President Terry Costenbader questioned where the money would come from.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry said that part of the money will come from the borough’s Rescue Funds, while the remainder would likely have to come out of the general budget.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said he believed the holding cell was a top priority for the police department.

Last month, council discussed possibly relocating its police department to the site of the former Palmerton Hospital.

Kepner said at that time the borough has contracted with an architect, but none of the projects have been completed.

He said they’ve been looking at long-term plans for the police department, and whether it can remain at its site inside the Municipal Services Building at 401 Delaware Ave.

Kepner then suggested council should approach St. Luke’s about the former Palmerton Hospital to see if they’d be willing to sell the property to the borough.

McGarry said at that time the borough had been looking for contractors to give it some estimates for work to the current police station.

Borough police Chief Tim Kromer talked about a recent incident in which a man in custody, who has since died, became difficult to get under control and spit on one of the borough police officers and caused damage to a police vehicle.

Costenbader at that time voiced concerns about the possibility of a new building at the former hospital site because it’s located in a residential section, as well as access to Delaware Avenue.

Kepner said the key is trying to find adequate space, and added he believes a new facility would be the easiest and most streamlined approach to take.

Councilman Michael Ballard said at that time that many years ago the building directly across from the current Municipal Services Building, formerly a research lab for the New Jersey Zinc Company, was converted into S.S. Palmer Elementary School.

Kepner said they will seek some community input.

It was announced at January’s council meeting the police department was in need of a major remodel.

Mayor Don Herrmann and Kepner toured the department and described the building code violations that required immediate action.

Cleanup work was started inside the police department shortly after January’s council meeting.