A $1 million state grant will allow Palmerton to move forward to construct a modernized police station.

Borough council last week unanimously agreed to approve a resolution for the Local Share Account Statewide grant for a new police station.

Funding was awarded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which allots money to economic development projects that have a regional impact.

Borough council broke for a brief executive session during last week’s meeting to discuss land matters. No action was taken when council returned.

The lot from the former Palmerton Hospital has been discussed as a site.

St. Luke’s has committed to donating the land to the borough.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said the borough has been working with St. Luke’s, but that they didn’t yet have an agreement in hand.

Keystone Consulting Engineers has recommended new construction over repairing the station, located in a former New Jersey Zinc building at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Fourth Street.

Canfield previously said council was looking at two tracts of land, but did not disclose specifics. Canfield said the borough looked at more than a dozen sites, but narrowed it down to two.

Council member Kris Hoffner earlier this year suggested looking into the far east-end of the Northface Development in Palmerton, the site of the former New Jersey Zinc West Plant.

Council previously said the cost for a potential 5,000-square-foot building would be about $1 million.

The borough has been looking at the possibility of reclaiming space rented by Carbon County’s Area Agency on Aging for use of its police department.

Police moved into the former lab building in 2000.