Lansford Borough Council sold a tract of land Wednesday that could clear the way for a new business.

Council opened bids for the 2.34 acre tract along Dock Street, which resident Ryan Eidle had approached the borough about earlier this year.

Eidle had told council in June that he had been looking for land in the borough for a self-storage business, but wasn’t able to find land and then this tract came to his attention.

Council members favored his proposal, as the borough needs this type of business and Eidle wanted to locate in Lansford.

Council then appraised the property and advertised it for sale to the highest bidder. Eidle was the only bidder.

Eidle offered $20,000 for the property plus additional expenses, which council accepted but not without questions and concerns from residents and one councilman, as the property was appraised at $55,000.

Solicitor Bob Yurchak noted that there was no minimum bid required, and it was council’s choice whether or not to accept the bid.

Council members Bruce Markovich and Bill Chuma didn’t agree with the appraised value, as there are railroad, sewer and power lines, in addition to the creek on the property which present challenges.

Councilman Martin Ditsky voted against the sale.

“I’m not in favor of it,” he said.

Councilwoman Jennifer Staines said the land is just sitting there idle, and the sale would put it back on the tax rolls.

Resident Bob Silver, a former councilman, questioned selling at lower than the appraised value per borough code. He believes it should be bid a second time, and if the bids did not come in at the appraised value, it then be sold for less.

“Do you really think that property is worth $55,000?” Markovich asked him.

The building challenges of the property have no bearing, Silver said, and the code says that it must be sold at the current value.

The sale of the property was advertised correctly and no minimum required, Yurchak repeated, adding that it was council’s decision to sell for less or not.

Silver also believed that a minimum bid should have been established at the appraised value, and Yurchak replied council did not have to set a minimum.

Resident Mary Soberick asked why a minimum wasn’t set, and Markovich said that the borough didn’t know what someone would want to bid and the borough has no use for the land.

Yurchak pointed out that the Panther Valley School District sold the old Lansford high school for $100, and it was worth more. There was also no minimum bid required in that sale, he said.

Resident Joe Genits questioned the length of the advertisement, even though it met the requirements under the borough code. He said the borough may have gotten more interest if the site was advertised differently or longer.

He also wondered what happens if the potential buyer runs into problems with the building, decides to list the land and gets more money in a sale.

Markovich said the borough has no control if a new owner wants to flip the property.

Council, which had already voted to sell the land prior to the discussion, agreed to move on when Ditsky, who is leaving council at the end of the year, asked if this was a lame duck council.

Markovich responded, “No.”

Council will have three new council members in January, and have four returning members.