Websites for Jim Thorpe's borough government, police department and Memorial Hall event venue will soon be getting a face-lift.

Borough council last week authorized its solicitor and borough manager to finalize a contract with Virtual Towns and Schools to redesign and host the websites.Former councilman Kurt Jackson, who led the charge in researching website design companies for the borough, said the Massachusetts-based company quoted him at $10,000 for the initial redesign and $2,400 per year for annual maintenance and support."I was actually very surprised at that quote," Jackson said Thursday. "I think the borough is getting a really good deal. The goal was to find a group that was going to be around for a while. We didn't want a one or two man operation."While the length of the contract is yet to be determined, Jackson recommended at least a two-year deal.Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said Jim Thorpe reached out to four companies, but only heard back from two."The other company was more expensive because they priced it per hour," Sterner said. "We're happy with Virtual Towns and Schools because they focus specifically on municipalities and other governmental agencies."Council liked what it saw when it visited other municipal websites serviced by Virtual Towns and Schools."I went to the Gettysburg Borough page and really thought it was easy to navigate," Councilman Jay Miller said. "There was a lot of good information there."The borough plans to use part of a $99,000 insurance refund it recently learned it would be receiving.According to Jackson, the $10,000 redesign cost could be stretched out over three years."I think you'll be really pleased with the results," Jackson told council. "The websites are your portal to the community and you have a chance to offer something so much more."The websites could be up and running by Memorial Day.Memorial HallOne of the websites included in the redesign is Jim Thorpe's Memorial Hall.Councilwoman Joanne Klitsch said $81,000 was borrowed from the borough's general and sanitation funds in 2015 to support the hall, but Jim McHugh, the venue's manager/chef, reports a banner start to 2016."We're so far ahead of where we were last year at this time," he said. "Both January and February were solidly booked. April is booked and March is pretty solid as well."McHugh said 2016 is shaping up to be Memorial Hall's best year in the last five to seven years."We're getting lots of repeat business and one of our goals was to get more Jim Thorpers back using the building for functions. We're seeing that with anniversary parties, bridal showers, baby showers and weddings. Things are going very well.