Residents of Lansford should expect to see demolition begin soon on the former Elks building.

Last week, the commissioners approved a change order to the contract with Northeast Industrial Services of Shamokin for the clearance and demolition of the deteriorated structure at 6 W. Ridge St.The change order raises the contract price to $145,748 from its original contract of $118,748.The reason for the increase was asbestos and other hazardous materials were discovered in the dilapidated building and must be removed before demolition could begin.The project was delayed after the asbestos was found because the cost shot up over Carbon's Community Development Block Grant allocation of $127,791, meaning someone needed to come up with the additional $18,000 over the grant allocation to cover the costs.Earlier this month, Lansford agreed to take the money from its general fund to be able to move forward with the project.During that meeting, Councilwoman Rose Mary Cannon pledged that the extra $18,000 would be paid back to the town's general fund through a grant later this year, which was supposed to go toward handicap accessible doors at the borough community center.The demolition is now expected to resume within the next two weeks, David Bodnar, director of county planning and development, said.He said the delay was because of mother nature, but things should be moving forward shortly.Carbon is handling the demolition project because Lansford is no longer an entitlement community under the Department of Community and Economic Development rules.After the 2010 census, which showed the population dropped below the 4,000 threshold, Lansford was dropped from the entitlement status, meaning it now has to compete for money with other nonentitlement communities in the county.In September 2015, borough council, after discussing the building's problem for over a year, decided that the building, which has deteriorated to the point of near collapse, should be demolished.The building's roof has gaping holes, and inside floors of the building are collapsing in many places.Other businessThe commissioners voted on the following personnel actions:• Accepted the resignation of Tina L. Dittman of Coaldale as a part-time K-9 officer, effective March 23.• Hired Elena R. Beckett of Lehighton and Alyssa M. Schultz of Summit Hill as lifeguards, effective May 27.