Carbon County plans to enforce the illegal burning that has been taking place at an encampment along the Lehigh River in Lehighton.

Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said Monday morning that the state Department of Environmental Protection was aware of the matter.

“DEP is aware of the situation, and the complaints of the illegal burning and we expect a letter in writing from DEP and the (Lehighton) police department,” Nothstein said. “We have been working with the borough on enforcing those rules because the borough and county could be liable, plus all the complaints we got.”

Nothstein added the homeless people who live in the encampment were told that they would be cited for any further illegal burning.

“We are not going to tolerate the illegal burning because that puts us at liability and we could be fined if it’s not enforced,” he said. “Plus, it’s a public health hazard.”

Task force meets

The Carbon County Homelessness Task Force met Friday morning, said Nothstein, who added it’s countywide and is for the homeless sheltered and unsheltered.

“We did read off a mission statement that the previous board and committee had put together,” he said. “The people there all seemed favorable to the mission statement and goals.”

The next meeting of the task force is expected to be held next month at a time and date to be determined.

“The main goal was to discuss what committees we really need, and the biggest one is the housing,” he said. “There’s a lack of housing,

The mission statement states that “The Carbon County Homelessness Task Force is a community forum by which private individuals, representatives of private-sector and public-sector organizations, the faith-based community, and government officials come together to collaborate on what is needed in Carbon County to assist those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.”

It’s vision statement is “to prevent and eliminate homelessness in Carbon County.”

Vacating camp

A group of homeless people who live in the encampment along the Lehigh River in Lehighton will eventually have to vacate the premises.

Carbon County Commissioners’ Chairman Michael Sofranko said last week that the sheriff’s department was directed by commissioners to go down by Tent City and do some documentation for what may be offered to those who live there. Tent City is located on county property, but within Lehighton borough limits.

Sofranko said they were given information where they could go for help, and that the county will be posting that property shortly.

He said that while they have certain rights, so do the residents who are living in that area, and noted it’s also a liability to the county.

Sofranko said it’s not just a county issue, but a borough issue as well.

He emphasized it isn’t a case where they want to push the people out of Tent City, but rather to clean it up and make sure they find a place where they can get the help that they need.

The county initiated its latest edition of a task force aimed at assisting those in need with a meeting in Jim Thorpe on Jan. 26.