Carbon County won't be participating in the state's gypsy moth spraying program next year due to costs and rules.

Commissioners, with Chairman Wayne Nothstein absent, on Thursday voted to opt out of the program.The reasons include the cost, which about doubled from $26 an acre in 2015 to $54 an acre this year, and the rules, which require parcels to be a minimum of 23 acres to participate, and have at least 250 egg masses per acre."There are some problems with the program, and a lot of them have to do with the Bureau of Forestry's rules and regulations," said Commissioner William O'Gurek.The cost is a big factor. The county had 1,582 acres sprayed this year, most of them around the county's Mauch Chunk Lake Park."That's taxpayers' money," said Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard. He said the county will likely consider hiring a private sprayer.Commissioners said they will refer residents to private contractors, who would do the job for less and without the stringent requirements.Gerhard suggested landowners contact Dave Horvath at Mauch Chunk Lake Park for referrals.In other matters, commissioners congratulated new District Judge Eric Schrantz."Eric is a longtime police officer in Jim Thorpe, and very well experienced. He is also already certified by the state to hold this position," O'Gurek said."I think he has someone to lean on to help him if he needs it, and that's his stepfather, Ed Lewis, who retired from that position," he said.Gerhard said Schrantz has "some big shoes to fill, replacing Ed Lewis. But I want to wish him the best. I think they made an excellent choice."At an election board meeting following the regular commissioners' meeting, election chief Lisa Dart said voting machines have been serviced and are ready to go.New machines have been added, bringing the total to 137 for the county's 51 precincts."We're anticipating heavy turnout, as is usual in presidential elections," O'Gurek said.The county anticipates handling thousands of absentee ballots in November.Those who want to apply for absentee ballots are urged to apply soon and remember to mail back the ballots in a timely manner."We're going to be putting an extra note in the absentee ballots stressing the importance of the mail," Dart said.Voters using absentee ballots are urged to mail them at least two or more days before the deadline, which is the Friday before the election."The message is clear: Get your applications in," O'Gurek said.