Carbon County officials are finalizing a new fund that will help communities combat blight.

Last week, the board of commissioners, in a 2-0 vote, ratified a motion to open a new demolition fund account through the county treasurer’s office. Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein was absent.

The fund, which will officially begin on Jan. 1, will be operated through the recorder of deeds office. It will include a $15 fee attached to all deeds recorded and will be used as a way to provide funds for projects such as demolition of a severely blighted property.

The Office of Planning and Development will oversee the funds and the process of applying for money once enough is collected.

The commissioners also have spoken with state Sen. David Argall, who has helped Schuylkill tackle the blight problem over the years.

Municipalities that will be able to use the funds, once established, will have to have a blight plan in place. They may also need to have some matching funds for any project.

The request for this fee to be implemented came earlier this year from Nesquehoning Borough Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani, who was spearheading a newly formed county blight committee.

At that time, she asked why the county does not participate in Act 152, which allows for the fee per deed recorded.

The commissioners said that they had to look into the matter more and were concerned that not enough funds would be able to be brought in.

However, in April, the board began the process to implement the fee.

In July, the commissioners also authorized the Recorder of Deeds office to charge and collect the fee beginning in 2024 and also created a Double Home Rehabilitation pilot program to address the needs of homeowners living in a half double that is connected to a blighted property.

Through that pilot program, a municipality would be responsible to raze one side of the home, and the county would then use up to $50,000 to help rehabilitate the livable side of that double home.

That could mean creating a wall or building a foundation, or any other structure necessary to ensure that the other side of the home remains habitable.