Nearly a year ago, Lansford Ambulance Corps was shut down by the Pennsylvania Department of Health because some of its equipment reportedly didn't comply with state standards.

Lansford Borough Council has, for months, been trying to get the ambulance unit to return communication equipment, specifically pagers and radios, to the borough, but without success.Tuesday night, council was advised the state's Auditor General has been asked to intervene.Attorney Michael Greek, solicitor for the borough, said he has made a formal request to the auditor general to assist the borough in having its equipment returned.Rose Mary Cannon, a member of council, said the borough paid to upgrade the radios to comply with present dispatching needs."They're out of service and we want the radios back," Cannon said.It was also reported during the meeting that the ambulance garage is being used for car repairs. Council said this was an unauthorized use, so it will ask the borough's code enforcement officer to have this discontinued.In other business:• Council was informed it would receive $40,000 from Beaver Meadows' allocation of 2012 Community Development Block Grant funds. The money will be used to construct handicap ramps in front of the borough building and the Lansford/Coaldale Joint Water Authority building.The funds were initially to be applied to the Tamaqua Street water and sewer improvements in Beaver Meadows.Beaver Meadows will receive $40,000 from Lansford's 2013 CDBG funds to complete its $55,000 project.• Robert Clewell of 229 W. Water St. complained that weeds are a problem at a vacant property at 224 W. Abbott St. He also said there are rodents on the Abbott Street property and he is concerned children might get hurt by them.A bank had foreclosed on the property about two years ago.• Clewell also said brush is a problem on Lehigh Anthracite property on the old railroad bed along Spruce Street. Greek said he will send a letter to the BET Corporation, which owns Lehigh Anthracite.• Council agreed to apply for a grant through the state's automated red light enforcement grant opportunity.Councilman Tommy Vadyak suggested a flashing light be placed on Route 209 in advance of the Cortright Street bus stop.Mary Soberick, a council member, expressed concern that the grant application is due by June 30 and the borough might not have anyone qualified to fill out the complex grant requests.After some discussion, council said the grant will be sought if the application can be completed.• USAGain was authorized to place clothing collection places in town. Council President Martin Ditsky said the firm pays the borough approximately 15 cents per pound of clothing that is collected.• Council said it will begin looking for a used vehicle that would be utilized as an unmarked police car. The vehicle should cost between $8,000 and $10,000.