Carbon County officials have a lot to discuss before they make a move on a request to add a fee to deeds recorded that would be used to fight blight.

On Thursday, Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said he is willing to do it, but many things need to be determined before he would vote in favor or the $15 fee on all new mortgages and deeds recorded in the county.

He said that municipalities needs to also step up to the plate and possibly create an agreement that municipalities would have to do a 50% match for projects they would like to use these funds for.

“We have so many places that are blighted and it’s going to cost a tremendous amount to eliminate things,” Nothstein said. “We can’t depend on that fund alone.”

He questioned how blighted sites would be prioritized for the funds and said until that is figured out, he won’t vote on the matter.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that the municipalities should also have a blight plan in place to help properly identify blighted properties.

He noted that Donna Gentile, recorder of deeds, did check and said she could “easily implement with no fee to the county to provide that capability on her recording fee.

“So that is a step in the last couple of weeks,” Lukasevich said.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said that discussions with the state also should happen to see if they are willing to commit anything to be able to get this off the group because collecting $15 fees will not amount to much in the big picture for all the blighted buildings that need to come down.

Lukasevich cited the Whole Home Repair program, which will help fight blight before it gets to the point of requiring demolition, and noted that state officials said this program will be a recurring program.

“You have to take all these different pieces and bring them together in the end,” he said.