Lansford Borough Council discussed numerous topics including rental units, grant opportunities, electricity in borough parks and more during committee meetings last Tuesday.

Council President Bruce Markovich said ARRO Consulting, which oversees rental licenses and inspections, did research through the county’s property database.

The firm found that the borough has 2,200 taxable homes and 1,200 residences where the owner does not live at the property, he said. The borough also has 740 rental licenses, Markovich said.

“So there’s roughly 500 properties that we do not know anything about in this town,” he said.

These properties could be condemned, already torn down and still on the tax rolls or undeclared rental units, Markovich said.

Residents noted that property information is readily available from the county, and that some of the unknown properties and rental buildings could have more than one rental unit - making the number higher.

Markovich also said that Sen. David Argall’s office sent information on a grant opportunity to install curbing along Cortright Street to Ridge Street, then along Dock Street to Route 209.

The grant would be in conjunction with the $3.9 million expansion at the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum on Dock Street, he said. The grant application would be at no cost to the borough, which council members favored.

Parks

On parks, the borough is still waiting to hear about the status of the master park plan, which has gone through several hands in Harrisburg, Markovich said.

The borough received a grant for the plan, which would make applying for other grants easier, he said.

The borough is also looking at electrical service in its parks, specifically mapping the electrical system in Kennedy Park. Councilwoman Michele Bartek said additional electrical is needed in Ashton Park as well as for events such as Halloween festivities.

Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio, who chairs the parks committee, said that she would like to see electric service to allow them place Christmas trees along Route 209 next year.

She also thanked everyone who purchased trees for the seasonal event this year, as well as everyone who helped set up the Christmas trees and remove them in January.

All non-decorated trees were taken to the Carbon County Environmental Education Center when removed from the park, she said. “I’m going to tell you that park looks terrific,” Councilman Jack Soberick told Collevechio during her report.