Lansford Borough Council on Wednesday moved through a lengthy agenda, including making a change in how it spends its Community Development Block Grant funding.

The borough planned to use its 2024 CDBG funds on a project to rehabilitate Cortright Street from Abbott Street to Water Street, but needed residents to complete surveys to show the area qualified.

Despite sending out surveys and posting reminders on the borough’s website and at the borough building, fewer than 10 residents returned surveys. Carbon County officials said that wasn’t enough, Council President Bruce Markovich said previously.

The borough will now shift that funding to tearing down a building in Lansford’s business district that partially collapsed earlier this year. The owners of 118 W. Ridge St. have been cited multiple times and refuse to take action, Markovich said.

Some council members weren’t happy about spending money to tear down the property, but the borough will attempt to recoup the cost of razing the building.

The sidewalk in front of the building has been closed since May.

Other matters

In other business, council:

• Authorized the borough solicitor to draft an amendment to the Sewer Transmission Ordinance to address a gap in the language.

• Approved a special event form submitted by the Carbon County Hot Wheels Club to meet Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. in Ashton Park. The club will provide a letter stating it holds the borough harmless in lieu of insurance. Members said they’re just enthusiasts who gather, show and talk about Hot Wheels cars.

• Approved a special event form from the Panther Valley Junior Senior High School homecoming senior advisors for a homecoming parade on Sept. 20 at 5:45 p.m. Police will be available.

• Approved a special event form from the Friends of Lansford Recreation for a tree lighting, Santa visit and music in Kennedy Park, Nov. 26 to Dec. 1. The actual tree lighting event is Dec. 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. Trees are set up and decorated the other days.

• Approved paying off the MEM Debacle-light fund loan in the amount of $14,604.11 to save interest.

• Approved opening a fire escrow account for 245 E. Abbott St. in the amount of $29,605.04.

• Approved a 50% deposit payment in the amount of $2,258.50 and $4,097 for the camera security system for the borough hall and police department paid for through COVID relief funds.

• Extended part-time streets worker Dennis Anderson’s hours, giving him another 300 hours.

• Approved a request from the water authority to waive the street opening fee for the West Abbott Street Water System Improvement Project.

• Approved a request from the Panther Valley School District to move the bus stop on Walnut and Abbott streets to Walnut and Bertsch streets due to ongoing construction at the church.

• Approved having the Zimmerman property surveyed to determine the actual property lines due to conflicting reports and paperwork.

• Approved placing no parking and trespassing signs on borough property located in the 300-block of East Ridge Street in Coaldale to prevent people from parking campers and other vehicles and also loitering.

• Approved participating in the Pennsylvania Small Business Credit Initiative Program to help startup businesses with grants and to start small businesses in the borough, and also the state Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program to help creative businesses. Council President Bruce Markovich said he would help anyone with the applications.

• Approved a letter of support for a grant for Summit Hill and Nesquehoning for new Christmas lights.

• Approved applying for a statewide gaming grant in the amount of $89,512.50 for 10 new portable radios for the American Fire Co. of Lansford.

• Approved ordering 24 garbage cans for the borough. The cost will be reimbursed by the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau.