Carbon County has yet to receive the $127,791 in state money to demolish the dilapidated Elks building in Lansford.

But they have some time.First, the borough needs to buy the building from its owner, who lives in New York. The property is in the county repository because the owner has failed to pay his taxes.Then the county will seek bids, perhaps as soon as September, for the job of tearing it down. Engineering also has to be done. The building is connected on both sides to others in the business district on Ridge Street."I know people are anxious to get that building down," said Commissioner William O'Gurek.That may happen this year, he said.Commissioners discussed the project at their regular public meeting Thursday.The state Department of Community and Economic Development sent notice that it has approved the contract for and intends to release the Community Development Block Grant, but has yet to send the $235,537 in 2015 funds to the county.That will pay for the Elks building demolition.Another $65,350 will go to Nesquehoning to pave Hazard Street from Route 209 to Center Street, and Center to Railroad streets."The shame is we are now paying $127,791 for an absent landlord," said Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein.He called for stricter laws to hold absentee property owners accountable for allowing buildings to deteriorate."Unfortunately for Lansford, with the low housing costs in that area, you get these people who buy up these properties, they let them run into the ground while they collect the rent and disappear," he said.The county is handling the demolition project because Lansford is no longer an entitlement community under DCED rules.In addition to the county CBDG contract, the state approved contracts with five entitlement communities.They are with Franklin Township for $83,735 for resurfacing State Road; with Lehighton for $93,534 for handicapped accessible corners and stormdrains on Iron Street at the intersections of Second, Third and Fourth streets; with Palmerton for $92,854 demolition and to repave Lehigh Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets; with Mahoning Township for $84,076 to resurface Center Road; and with Jim Thorpe for $87,843 to make sidewalk corners handicapped accessible, and for storm drains, and to repay some of the money it borrowed for the North Street water line project.This may be the last year municipalities will be able to use CDBG funds to repay loans, O'Gurek said.