Nesquehoning wants to know if an act that helps municipalities fight blight can implemented in Carbon County.

Recently, borough council discussed Act 152 of 2016, which would allow the county recorder of deeds office to collect a fee up to $15 for each deed or mortgage recorded that would be utilized by municipalities to demolish condemned structures.

Carbon County does not participate in the program, but neighboring Schuylkill County does.

According to state records, in 2021, Schuylkill used $39,000 to demolish five blighted properties that otherwise would not have been demolished because of lack of funding.

Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani, who has been vocal in the fight against blight in the community, said that she thinks Nesquehoning should reach out to other municipalities in the county, as well as approach the Carbon County commissioners to see about getting this act implemented and a blight fund started.

“The biggest problem with blight in any town is we have the ordinances, but we just don’t have the money,” she said, adding that a lot of funds could have been generated with the hot housing market that had taken place over the last year. “Can you imagine the money that could have been collected in the recorder of deeds office with all of the houses that were bought and sold as the housing market went crazy? ... Of course it didn’t happen because our commissioners would not implement it.”

Guardiani cited a recent $1 million grant Schuylkill received to take down a block of blighted homes and revitalize that area.

“It can be done,” she said. “You just need to find a way and need some backing.”

Council agreed to reach out to other municipalities to see if they would be willing to approach the county commissioners.

In other matters, Guardiani reminded residents that there is a dumpster ordinance in place in the borough.

The ordinance was adopted in 2018 and states that anyone obtaining a dumpster for projects that would be placed on the street must purchase a permit for $50.

It also outlines timelines, placement and use restrictions of dumpsters on borough streets.