Two Jim Thorpe Borough building projects several years in the making appear headed out to bid for a second time, pending an official borough council vote next week.

One project calls for the renovation of Memorial Hall, with the borough using one-third of the top floor for its office staff while keeping the rest of the space as a community center, and moving its police department to the bottom floor. A second project calls for construction of a new public service department garage on property the borough owns across from its water department on West Broadway.

Bids in 2020 came back well over estimates for both projects.

“COVID-19 had other plans for us at that time and impacted some of the pricing, so we’re back on them now and hopefully we will be able to accomplish them,” Council President Greg Strubinger said during a workshop Thursday night.

Currently, borough office staff and the Jim Thorpe Police Department share a 3,332-square-foot building built in 2008 adjacent to Memorial Hall.

After a 2016 feasibility study cited concerns over safety and available space given the building’s current layout, the borough has been looking to relocate office staff and police.

Initial design for the garage featured a 26,000-square-foot public works garage with nine service bays.

Since the projects initially went out to bid, there have been some changes to the scope of the work.

“Memorial Hall now includes some HVAC noise reducing work and outside wall work for insulation and moisture reduction,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said. “The garage specifications now also have an option for a pole building.”

While nothing is set in stone, Sterner said she expects bids could be awarded by July.

“That would make it possible to break ground by the end of the year,” Strubinger said. “It’s been a lot of work, but I’m glad we’re at this point where we are ready to move forward.”