Lansford Borough may be one step closer to demolishing the former Elks building after Carbon County announced that it would earmark over $100,000 in grants for the demolition project.

On Thursday, the county commissioners voted 2-0 to authorize the advertisement of a second public hearing notice regarding the use of the 2015 Community Development Block Grant program funds for entitlement and nonentitlement communities.Commissioner William O’Gurek abstained from the vote because of his employment with the Times News, but pointed out that Lansford, who formerly was an entitlement community until the 2010 census, when the population dropped below the 4,000 threshold, was selected to receive $127,791 from the nearly $200,000 the county receives for non-entitlement community projects.The money will be used for the demolition of the former Elks building, which has been the topic of discussion in Lansford for the last year.Last month, council decided that the building, which has deteriorated to the point of near collapse, should be demolished.The building’s roof has gaping holes, and inside floors of the building are collapsing in many places.The holdup yet though is the town must first acquire the property and secure enough money to demolish it.Lansford Borough Council President Martin Ditsky announced the borough’s plan in September. The Elks building sits in the heart of the borough’s Ridge Street business district, which was once a bustling commercial center, but over the years suffered from a lack of investment.“We are trying to beautify the downtown,” Ditsky previously said. “(The building) has become an eyesore.”Borough officials must also seek approval from a state agency before the demolition can take place because the building is located in the Lansford Historic District.The building is currently on the county’s repository list. That means that it did not sell when put up for tax sale. The initial tax sale came about because the previous owner ran up delinquent tax bills.The Elks Club operated in the borough up until the early 1980s.O’Gurek said Thursday that the county is happy to help Lansford with this project through the CDBG program.“These are troubled times in Lansford and it is difficult for the borough to get a lot accomplished,” he said. “We are pleased because this board has taken a track record of trying to help Lansford.”O’Gurek pointed out that recently, the county partnered with the borough to fund the construction of a handicap accessible ramp at the water authority and community center.Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the county tries to spread the money it receives throughout the non-entitlement communities.“One of our biggest concerns is public safety,” he said. “This building is a public safety issue.”Other projects that will be funded through the CDBG program this year include a second non-entitlement community, Nesquehoning, who is expected to receive $65,350 for the reconstruction and resurfacing of Hazard Street from state Route 209 to Railroad Street; as well as entitlement communities: Franklin Township, $68,663 for reconstructing State Road from the entrance of state Route 248 to beyond Union Hill Road; Jim Thorpe, $72,032 for water/sewer improvements and loan repayment in the borough; Lehighton, $76,698 for replacing ADA handicap corner and relocating storm drains on Iron Street; Mahoning Township, $68,943 for street improvements on Center Road; and Palmerton, $58,691 for street improvements to Lehigh Avenue and $17,450 for demolition work at 3 and 4 Hillside Road.Hearings for each of these projects will be scheduled over the next month.The hearing for the Lansford and Nesquehoning projects is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 11, in the Lansford Borough Hall, 1 W. Ridge St.