Plans to demolish Lehighton’s old sewer plant continue to make strides.

Borough council last week approved a proposal from Carbon Engineering in the amount of $14,000 to prepare the engineering specifications and plans in order to bid the project.

Borough Manager Nicole Beckett previously said the borough received a letter from the Lehighton Sewer Authority, which recommended the demolition of the building.

Beckett said the borough has had problems with trespassing, vandalism and thefts over the years. She added that the former sewer plant is a liability to the borough.

She said that in 2012, the sewer authority had recommended the demolition of the building located off Lehigh Drive.

Beckett said both the Sewer Authority and the borough’s Public Works Department recommended demolition last year.

Previously, the building had been used for storage for the borough’s police department and Public Works Department, she said.

The fire department was also permitted to use the exterior of the buildings and grounds for training purposes.