Lansford Borough Council held a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the potential purchase of the former Lehigh and New England Railroad Freight Station on Dock Street.

Council has been examining the situation over the past couple of weeks. President Bruce Markovich said council learned of the pending sale on Dec. 12.

On Dec. 21, council established a committee of Markovich, John Turcmanovich and Martin Ditsky to review the railroad station and properties.

Markovich called the potential acquisition a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“It’s our chance to get some economic development,” Markovich said.

“You have this established tourism market in Jim Thorpe, and you have this increasing tourism market coming out of Tamaqua and their train station,” said Markovich.

“We are situated right between both of those established markets, and we should be able to pull for them at some point.”

Ken Hill owns the former train station where Hill’s Machine Shop operates. However, Dec. 31 will be the final workday of his business after 65 years.

“I asked Kenny if he would give us the opportunity to come speak with him and he agreed to it,” Markovich added.

The building is one of three parcels that Hill is selling.

“We have to take all three if we want to maintain the price that he’s offering - and it’s a very fair price. But if we only take the railroad station, then it’s an entirely different price.”

Markovich said other groups are in pursuit of Hill’s property.

“He does not want us to disclose (the price) at this point, because if we don’t take it, he does not want to be committed to that price because of other people.”

Local historian, Dale Freudenberger, who was in audience, said the tracks in Lansford are owned by the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad.

Markovich hoped to have commitment from the railroad to examine the possibility of “doing the tracks over” before the potential purchase.

But due to Hill’s tight timeline, Markovich said it’s likely impossible. The borough will have to decide whether to purchase the property, despite knowing the risk of not having an active rail system coming through Lansford in the future.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunities for the town,” said Pa. state Rep. Doyle Heffley. “You’re really pushed up against a tight time frame. LSA (funds) - there’s always money out there - my office will do whatever we can in working with Sen. (John) Yudichak and Sen. (Mario) Scavello.”

Markovich said the opportunity to buy the building would be “gone in four weeks.”

“The next person in line is waiting for him,” Markovich added. “And they’re standing there to pay him with full cash, and they can pay him more for it.”

Council discussed pros and cons of the purchase, and best- and worst-case scenarios, such as what to do with the property if there would be no active rail system in the future.

Markovich said another special meeting should be scheduled soon.

“We’re going to have to see what council’s position is going to be on it. Because there’s only a committee of the three of us here. We’re going to need an executive session to discuss this, plus we have new (council) members coming on.”