After nearly five weeks of being shut down, the portion of Washington Street next to the historic building that housed Diamond Fire Company's social hall has reopened.

The street was closed due to fears portions of the building might collapse following the Nov. 2 fire there.Walnutport Borough Council said at its workshop meeting Thursday that the street may occasionally be shut down off-and-on again as work continues on the building.Resident Ron Bauer asked council to stop raising taxes a half mill year after year."Rather than coming after the taxpayer (again and again), I'd like to see, if the borough's got to raise it 1 mill, do 1 mill," he said.He also questioned council about a possible 2015 half-mill tax increase he had read mentioned in a Times News article.He said he thought the possible half-mill increase was "because we're doing improvements for the borough ... not because of the rec center."However, Secretary Annette Lacko said the increase is "the worst-case scenario" because "if they go through with the rec center and they approve the budget, they might have to do a half-mill."By "the rec center," Lacko is referring to Walnutport possibly joining forces with Slatington and Washington Township to form a regional recreation authority.Council members have continuously used the term "rec center" instead of "regional recreation authority" to describe it. In fact, a shared "rec center" is only one aspect of the proposed regional recreation authority. Its main focus, as discussed at the joint municipality meetings and mentioned by representative Nancy Treskot at Thursday's meeting, is to work toward grants for all three municipalities' recreational needs.In addition, a half-mill tax increase would bring in approximately $20,000 of revenue while Walnutport's proposed contribution toward a regional recreation authority is only $6,200.A hearing is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday to approve both the final budget and whether or not to join the regional recreation authority.In other news, council made a motion to approve Nancy Treskot, wife of current tax collector Bob Treskot, as the deputy tax collector.Nancy Treskot said Walnutport's situation is unique because, should anything warrant the need for an alternate to step in for Bob, the Lehigh Township tax collector cannot do so due to being in a different school district, but also the Slatington tax collector cannot do so due to being in a different county. Normally, she said, that duty would fall to a neighboring tax collector.Also, Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker asked whether or not council would approve money to replace her mailbox post, which she said was within borough regulations but damaged during leaf collection.Gaston said she should put the complaint in writing and that council will consider it further.