Tamaqua borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt updated council on the progress of several projects in the borough.

Among them was a project to convert the former Moose building into a police station and community center.

And for that, council approved several change orders at its Tuesday meeting.

The changes include a reduction in price from about $3,000 to $1,980 for floor drains in men’s and women’s locker/shower rooms, and a savings of $3,600 resulting in a change for a propane tank pad.

“The building is going to be heated with propane,” Steigerwalt said of the 133 E. Broad St. property.

An additional $690 will be spent to remove more cracked concrete in the basement, and about $4,300 is needed for more concrete for an elevator pit.

“The elevator pit was just a little bit too shallow,” Steigerwalt said.

More framing will be needed for the elevator shaft and will cost about $4,900.

Finally, Steigerwalt noted that more backfill will have to be purchased for the property.

Jay Stidham, director of public works, said borough crews have been able to complete some of the work at the property.

Uhrig Construction of Reading is leading the $4.4 million project to create new police headquarters, community center and district court offices. A $2 million grant from the state’s Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program will help fund the project.

The current police station is at the Tamaqua Municipal Building, 320 E. Broad St. The building also houses borough offices and was constructed as the Tamaqua Armory around 1913, according to records.

The new site will expand the police department’s space from about 1,300 to 4,500 square feet.

The first floor will be reserved for department offices, secure interview rooms and areas for crime survivors. The basement will be used for evidence and storage, and a secure sally port will be added so police can safely transfer in-custody suspects.

The second floor will be for the district judge office, and the third floor will house a community hall. A three-story addition is also planned.

The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership purchased the long-vacant building several years ago and is managing the project. When work is complete, the nonprofit partnership will turn the property over to the borough.

Parking will be behind the building where the partnership purchased and leveled several blighted properties along East Mauch Chunk and Pine streets.

As for other work, Steigerwalt noted that a “notice to proceed” was recently issued to the contractor for the borough’s swimming pool.

He said that he will soon meet with officials from Multiscape Inc., the firm undertaking the pool project at Bungalow Park.

“So that’s in the works,” he said.

A project at the borough’s sewer plant is also underway, Steigerwalt noted.