It will be a new-look Jim Thorpe Borough Council in 2024 as the governing body welcomed two first time members during Tuesday night’s reorganization meeting.

Connor Rodgers and Sydney Wernett took their seats at the council table after successful election bids in 2023. One of the duo’s first votes was the unanimous re-election of Greg Strubinger as council president.

“I look forward to working with everyone, both new and returning, on council as we start this year,” Strubinger said. “We have some good things on the horizon. Our building projects should be taking off sooner rather than later and Memorial Park itself is slated to see some exciting upgrades.”

Jim Thorpe awarded contracts totaling $9.69 million for the renovation of Memorial Hall and the construction of a new public service garage. The extensive Memorial Hall renovation will encompass HVAC upgrades and a revamped interior layout. One-third of the top floor will be repurposed for borough office staff, while the rest of the space will remain a community center. Additionally, the police department will find its new home on the bottom floor.

Memorial Park is slated to see new equipment, lighting upgrades and other improvements as part of a multi-phase project.

“It’s a great opportunity for this council to see those projects through,” Strubinger said.

Mike Yeastedt was unanimously voted council vice president.

Strubinger said he’s excited to see Wernett and Rodgers come on board. Wernett is a full-time Carbon County deputy sheriff while Rodgers, 20, was Jim Thorpe’s first junior councilperson and almost certainly its youngest ever member of council.

“It is an inspiration to see young people in the community stepping up to serve,” Strubinger said. “We are looking forward to their insight. Everyone brings a different experience and that makes the council unique.”

Wernett also won a two-year council seat in the 2023 election, which she vacated to take the four-year position. That leaves council with a vacant two-year seat, for which it is accepting letters of interest.

Other changes will be afoot in the borough, as it will have a new mayor after Michael Sofranko, who held the seat for 14 years, was elected to the Carbon County Board of Commissioners.

Until the borough appoints a mayor, Strubinger is serving in the role, meaning he can’t vote on any council matters unless there is a tie.

In addition to Rodgers, Wernett, Yeastedt and Strubinger, rounding out Jim Thorpe’s council in 2024 are Joanne Klitsch and Tom Chapman.