An earlier column explored one of the region’s largest and most obvious issues.

Simply put, it’s blight.

Lately, the topic has taken up its share of space in these news pages, mostly because residents are complaining to local authorities and those same authorities are struggling for answers.

Enforcing codes and ordinances isn’t easy given the constraints a municipality faces. That only adds to how quickly minor violations compound and become bigger problems.

But the discussions about high weeds, broken windows and dilapidated structures are at the very least bringing more attention to the issues.

And people are responding.

All over the area - from Tamaqua to Towamensing and Packer to Palmerton - community leaders and residents are rising to the occasion.

Take Nesquehoning, for example, where Councilwoman Abbie Guardini led the effort to clean up her town - and eliminate an eyesore on High Street there.

Vacant and disintegrating after a fire six years ago, the property became a safety hazard and home to squatters.

In August, the property was razed and a tax lien placed against one of the owners.

Over in Lansford, borough officials are ramping up their efforts to spruce up where they live, too. Earlier this month, they pondered hiring professionals to enforce code and rental issues.

Staring down the barrel of limited funding, the borough may hike fees to pay for the service.

Payment was an issue long-discussed regarding a property on West Ridge Street in that community, where council members pondered - and received - federal Community Development Block Grant funds to take down a home.

At the county level, commissioners are at the forefront of fighting blight.

They’ve been longtime supporters of any efforts to keep Carbon clean, and just lately have instituted a $15 fee on deeds filed at the courthouse to build a demolition fund for decaying structures. With a slowing economy and rising interest rates stalling property transfers lately, the action puts the county on solid ground to fuel the effort when economic conditions clear.

On a larger scale, perhaps no one in the area has championed the issue of blighted communities more than state Rep. David Argall, R-29.

Over the years, Argall has been laser focused in beating back the spread of decaying buildings. He points to area successes like the Tamaqua Train Station and the No. 9 Mine and Museum in Lansford - one-time liabilities that now bring visitors and revenue to the district he represents.

Argall co-sponsored successful grant programs like the Whole Home Repair Program that help property owners pay for needed repairs to their homes.

He’s worked with colleagues at the state and federal levels to secure anti-blight funding and to create programs that rebuild and revitalize the region with better paying jobs that encourage better neighborhoods.

Partnerships with local banks and other financial institutions have also worked to fund demolition and improvement projects.

Maybe local organizers can also look to other parts of the commonwealth and the nation for ways to slow blight.

In many parts of the state, land banks have proved a valuable tool to purchase and rehabilitate decrepit buildings and offer them for resale to responsible owners.

Land banks buy failed properties at free and clear tax sales, restore or raze them and return them to tax-generating status.

Schuylkill County’s version has proved successful at several projects and to the north in Hazleton, two properties are experiencing a rebirth of sorts through land bank efforts.

But all those things cost money. And whether it be in the form of a grant or a loan, the bulk of it comes from taxes - local, state or federal.

Battling blight costs bucks by the bucketful.

Tax delinquents put pressure on regular taxpayers to solve a decaying community’s woes.

How much longer can that go on? Nobody knows.

There are, though, simple, cost-free things people can do to clean up their townships and boroughs.

Foremost among them is maintaining their own properties. Keep the grass trimmed, the fence solid and the roof from leaking. Use some of the funds available from government programs, if you need to and if you’re eligible.

Help an aging neighbor shovel snow or sweep a sidewalk.

See an adjoining property starting to go awry? Let local officials know before it gets beyond repair.

At all levels - from the neighborhood folks to community leaders and county, state and federal officials - we’re in this together.

It’ll take some time and effort, but together, we can turn blight back into bright.

ED SOCHA/TNEDITOR@TNONLINE.COM

Ed Socha is a retired newspaper editor with more than 40 years experience in community journalism. Reach him at tneditor@tnonline.com.

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.