Palmerton has applied for a grant to fix a dilapidated retaining wall.

Borough council on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution for a Local Share Account grant to repair an old railroad tie wall along Railroad Alley.

Council’s action comes after it heard concerns from several residents in the spring about the issue.

In May, resident Debbie Smith, of the 500 block of Mauch Chunk Road, told borough council about the bank on Railroad Alley.

Smith said the ties were all falling down, and added the trees also needed to be trimmed.

She said the bank needs to be shored up before it collapses.

Council President Terry Costenbader told Smith, at that time, the borough was looking into the matter and had to determine who owns it.

In April, Janis Sylstra, who also resides in the 500 block of Mauch Chunk Road, told borough council that the old railroad tie wall was falling down.

At that time, Sylstra noted she had brought her concerns to council three years ago, and that she believed the wall is a huge safety issue.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said in April, he drove through Railroad Alley (behind Mauch Chunk Road) and agreed it’s bad.

Hoffner said the borough needed to determine who owns it.

Costenbader assured Sylstra in April that once the borough determined who owns the wall, it would be addressed.

Sylstra also in April alluded to speeding that goes on along Mauch Chunk Road, which she said is alarming when trying to pull out of Railroad Alley onto Mauch Chunk Road.