Walnutport plans to replace the furnace inside borough hall that stopped functioning in 2023.

Borough grant coordinator Mike Wentz informed borough council on Thursday that the borough received a grant in the amount of $275,000 to replace the heating system.

Wentz said they are waiting for the final paperwork to come through, and anticipates the new furnace can start to be installed by spring.

In December, the borough received $275,000 in Local Share Account grants from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. It was part of nearly $1.27 million in LSA grants from the CFA for projects throughout the 183rd Legislative District.

Act 71 of 2004 provides for the distribution of LSA gaming revenues through the CFA to support projects of public interest within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In August 2024, borough council approved resolutions for a Monroe County LSA grant, along with a Northampton and Lehigh County LSA grant, to replace the heating system.

Before that vote, Wentz, who also serves as borough public works director, urged borough council to do both grants for the furnace.

Borough engineer Jason Newhard said at that time the furnace was 70 years old.

In December 2023, Wentz said it would cost $16,000 to update all the heat pumps, and that it would come out of American Rescue Funds.

Wentz said at that time that while the building had temporary heat, a permanent solution was necessary.

Council then on a 6-0 vote agreed to have the borough secretary transfer money out of American Rescue Funds to cover furnace repair expenses and extra police vacation/sick time expenses that were approved earlier in 2023.

In November 2023, council agreed to have LVR reline the furnace at a cost of $3,800. Wentz said the borough only paid a small portion of that after it was discovered what the exact problem was.

That came after Wentz said the age of the furnace, coupled with the fact inside brick is deteriorating, caused the back wall behind the furnace to crumble and fall in.