Tamaqua Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt presented a list of the most dilapidated properties in the borough during Tuesday night's regular council meeting.

Steigerwalt said he asked the code enforcement office to review all of the condemned properties and rank them. Topping the list is 216 Pitt St., followed by 252 W. Cottage Ave. and 202 Pitt St. Steigerwalt told council the borough has approximately $80,000 in funds available through CDGB monies for demolition and he would like to start looking at how best to tackle some of the properties.He added that demolition may not always be the best approach. Some of the condemned properties are attached to other dwellings that may or may not be inhabited. Steigerwalt noted in those cases, the borough may need to consider a rehabilitation project instead.Council received a letter from Traud Law Offices on behalf of the Allentown Diocese, representing the parish of St. John XXIII, which includes St. Jerome's, St. Peter and Paul's, and the St. Jerome Regional School. The letter thanked the borough for contacting them regarding the recently established CRIZ zone, but noted they did not believe they would be eligible for funding under the CRIZ.Council President Micah Gursky said that was not necessarily the case. Any nonprofit organization or group that pays any of the taxes covered by the CRIZ is eligible to receive monies from the CRIZ.Council also received a letter from Linda Yulanavage, executive director of the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce, updating council on the success of a recent breakfast seminar that was held on Tamaqua's new CRIZ program. Yulanavage said over 80 people attended the event.Council heard from Michael Kon, a real estate broker from Dallas, regarding a property at 301 W. Broad St. The property currently has approximately $30,000 owed to the borough in water, sewer, and garbage bills. Kon has a buyer for the property lined up, however, the entire purchase price for the property is close to the outstanding amount in utility bills owed on the property. Kon asked if the bills could be reduced. Council agreed to reduce the garbage bill by half, coming to about $5,500; however, the water and sewer bills will need to be referred to the water and sewer authorities.Council questioned who the buyer of the property is, as the property has been a nuisance property for years. Kon said that the purchaser is a local resident who plans to fix up the property.Jordan D. Fegley was hired as a full-time water distribution worker.