Jim Thorpe Borough is joining neighboring communities in looking for ways to reduce blight.

During next week’s council meeting, the municipality plans on voting to back a request of the Carbon County Commissioners to enact Act 152 of 2016, which allows for a $15 fee to be collected on each deed recorded in the county. All of the proceeds would be put into a fund to fight blight.

“I attended a meeting with some of the other area municipalities and we are planning on asking the commissioners to do this at their Feb. 23 meeting,” Councilman Jay Miller said. “It’s my understanding that $96,000 could have been generated last year with all of the deeds recorded. Applying for grants is a hit and miss situation and I think this is a great opportunity for a steady, consistent funding stream to tackle this. It’s a great start.”

Jim Thorpe plans to host a blight land bank workshop, sponsored by state Sen. Dave Argall, in April at Memorial Hall.

Last month, Councilman Robert Schaninger suggested putting containers in local businesses so residents and tourists could donate funds, which would go toward beautification efforts.

Schaninger said he and several members of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency have planned a meeting to get the idea off the ground.

“We want to get at some of these properties before they hit the point where they are considered blighted,” Schaninger said. “We have to start whittling away one at a time. I’d also like to pick the brains of Habitat for Humanity to see if they can lend a hand or help guide us on what to do. We have a lot of very bright people in this town and I think we can put our heads together and do more.”

One of Thorpe’s biggest eyesores sits at 204 Center Ave., for which council had obtained grant funding to tear down the deteriorating vacant home. Since the home is only one-half of a duplex, however, restoration of the remaining side, 206 Center Ave., pushed the price tag above what Jim Thorpe could afford, borough officials said.

Barry Isett and Associates, the borough’s engineering firm, estimated the cost of remediation to the 206 Center Ave., owned by Judy Williams, at a minimum of $55,000. The work includes construction of a masonry foundation wall, relocation of the main electrical panel, installation of temporary shoring and other checklist items.

The cost led Thorpe in September to reallocate grant funds earmarked for the demolition of 204 Center Ave. for use on other blighted properties throughout the municipality.

“I think the state needs to help us out with a few more laws, particularly when it comes to identifying ownership of properties, even when it is an LLC,” Miller said. “Someone runs that LLC at a point and time and we need to make progress in figuring that out so we can go after them.”

Councilwoman Jessica Crowley told her colleagues during a workshop Thursday night that she’d like the municipality to tap into its community of artists for beautification assistance.

“Beautification can include murals, artistic sidewalk repairs, organized cleanup events, painted public signage and more,” she said. “With the amount of local artists who live in this community, I believe this could be done. Not only could we create a unique community that reflects who we are, but we could create work opportunities for artists. It is not something many local communities are able to provide.”