A blighted building in Lehighton that officials have deemed “dangerous” could soon be demolished despite the presence of a litany of feral cats inside.

On Thursday, the Carbon County commissioners awarded the demolition contract for 135-139 N. First St., to low bidder Northeast Industrial Services Corp. of Shamokin. The company bid $186,435 for demolishing and clearing the property.

Donna Crum, retired Humane Society Police Officer for Carbon County, said Monday afternoon that she recently spoke with the borough and was told the building is still going to come down.

Crum, who is also one of the founders of Blue Mountain Animal Rescue Society, said there are at least 30 to 50 feral cats in the building, and added “there could be more.”

“We’ve been trapping there for a couple of years; they’re hindering our efforts,” Crum said. “They’re saying too bad; we’re going to knock the building down anyway.

“They said they’re going to go forward with or without the cats. Yes, it’s a nuisance. It’s also a health risk for any of the businesses on the street.”

Contacted Monday afternoon, borough Manager Dane DeWire said it is private property, and it’s county and state funding.

“Our job is to basically provide safety to the residents, which is why we’re deciding to take it down,” DeWire said. “People have reached out to me to see if there’s anything we can do about the sheltering of the animals in there.

“I’ve reached out to local shelters and local rescues to see if there’s anything that can be done. I’m having a preconstruction meeting with the engineer and the contractor; it will definitely be brought up.

“We understand there are protocols for those things; we’re still in the planing phases of the coordination of the demolition.”

DeWire said if there are any rescues or shelters for stray and feral cats, to reach out to the borough in the hopes there can be a combined effort for the animals.

“Our first and foremost goal is for the safety of the residents and the adjoining building owners and occupants.”

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said at Thursday’s meeting that if you look at the back of the building from the bypass, “it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” and added he hopes that demolition can proceed soon.

Nothstein said the windows are missing, there are holes in the floor and the roof is caving in.

Should there be a fire, Nothstein said firefighters would not go inside the structure, but feared for neighboring businesses, which could be lost due to the proximity.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner added that this is a great starting point in addressing blight. Lehighton has saved three years of Community Development Block Grant funds for the project.

Ahner added that he hopes Lehighton will have a plan for something there after the demolition is complete.

The board also voiced their frustrations at how the process is not in favor of municipalities because buildings like these can change hand several times, deteriorating more as time goes on, before a town can step in and do something about it.

The commissioners urged the legislature to address this process.