About a dozen no trespassing signs have recently been posted at the former Palmerton Hospital.

Samuel Kennedy, St. Luke’s spokesperson, said the signs were merely posted to ensure that the property remains secure until the land is eventually handed over to the borough.

“St. Luke’s remains committed to donating the land to Palmerton,” Kennedy said. “To maintain a safe environment for the benefit of our community while the donation is being finalized, we are kindly asking people to refrain from accessing the property.”

Palmerton Borough Council in November approved a resolution for a $1 million 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 that 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.

John Nespoli, president of St. Luke’s Carbon, said last year that St. Luke’s has committed to donating the land to the borough but details were still being worked out.

The site has been considered for a new Palmerton police station.

Borough Manager Autumn 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.

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.

Council member Kris Hoffner last 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.