Bids to turn the former Moose building in Tamaqua into a police station and community center came in higher than expected, council President Brian Connely said.

Connely was asked about the status of the East Broad Street station project by resident John Sakusky.

“We’re working back and forth with the contracts, trying to see if we could get it down to be more manageable cost-wise,” Connely said during last week’s council meeting,

The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership purchased the vacant building in 2022, and later bought adjoining parcels on East Mauch Chunk and Pine streets. Buildings on the adjoining properties were demolished to make way for a parking lot.

Connely said the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently approved permits for the lot.

A three-story addition is planned for the rear of the building.

Once the renovations are complete, the partnership will turn the building over to Tamaqua Borough to operate. The project is being funded in part by a $2 million grant from the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

“So yes, slowly but surely,” Connely said of the project’s progress.

In an unrelated matter, Jay Stidham, director of public works, thanked borough fire companies for helping to hose off sidewalks.

Also during the meeting, borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt advised residents to keep their grass trimmed since code enforcement officers would be making their rounds.