Months of searching. At least 12 locations considered. Deals that came together only to fall apart at the last minute. And still no answer.

Carbon County commissioners acknowledged Thursday that the search for a new home for the Panther Valley Senior Center remains unresolved, with the Office of Aging continuing to work through a list of possible sites in the Nesquehoning, Lansford and Summit Hill area after losing its previous space in Nesquehoning.

“They just seem to get it almost to the finish line, and then there’s either a handicap issue, a ramp issue, a parking issue, a space issue, a privacy issue, unavailability,” Commissioner Michael Sofranko said. “They are looking for space they could rent that would be in the Panther Valley area.”

The search has stretched on long enough that commissioners are fielding regular calls from concerned residents. Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said the situation has put him in an awkward position more than once.

“I keep calls from people in the Nesquehoning and Lansford area,” Nothstein said. “I told the people, and I guess it made a liar out of me, that I thought we had an agreement, and then things fell through with certain facilities.”

He said the county is not giving up.

“I think we’re getting somewhere, and all of a sudden things fall apart. People have called with different suggestions, different areas, and we’ll continue to look and maybe expand our search,” Nothstein said.

As recently as Wednesday evening, commissioners were waiting to hear back from another potential location. Sofranko said the answer had not yet come in as of Thursday’s meeting.

The challenge is compounded by geography. The Panther Valley region spans multiple boroughs — Nesquehoning, Lansford and Summit Hill — and commissioners acknowledged they cannot afford to operate centers in all three. Whatever location is ultimately chosen is likely to leave some residents farther from services than they are accustomed to.

“No matter where we go, we’re going to have winners or losers,” Nothstein said. “We’re not going to make the people happy in Nesquehoning if we move to Summit Hill. But if we move to Summit Hill, are we going to lose them, or are we going to gain more Summit Hill people? We don’t know.”

Sofranko on Thursday urged the public not to mistake the delay for inaction. Commissioners have been in contact with the aging office sometimes three times a week, he said, and staff have worked through a long list of properties only to encounter repeated obstacles.

“Do not think that it’s been let go,” Sofranko said. “There have been many decisions going back and forth.”