The homeless situation, recruitment/retention of county employees, and fentanyl use are among the more serious issues in Carbon County.

Carbon County commissioners spoke on the state of the county during the Palmerton Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Wednesday at Papa Al’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria.

Commissioner Wayne E. Nothstein said the county keeps losing employees to the private sector.

Another challenge rests with the county budget, he said.

“Our challenge is not gaining any revenues, and our (expenses) just continue to rise all the time,” Nothstein said.

Nothstein then touched on the homelessness situation.

“You have to find a place for them to go,” he said. “It’s just not that easy.”

Joe Bennett congratulated commissioners on the 3.5% raise they gave to county employees this year.

“We have a responsibility to the public,” Nothstein said. “We have to provide services.”

Commissioner Rocky Arner focused on the fentanyl issue, which he said is something that needs to be addressed.

“It’s not the homeless, not the (kid) that’s taking drugs,” Ahner said. “It’s everybody.”

Ahner said he saw three kids die in one year alone.

“It’s not nice to see; it destroys a family,” he said. “Let’s stop this now before any other accident happens.”

Commissioners Chairman Michael Sofranko said he was still getting acclimated to serving in his new capacity, having previously been mayor of Jim Thorpe.

“The goal is looking ahead,” Sofranko said. “You have to be forward thinking.”

Sofranko said that while there is a homelessness issue, all things take time.

“It’s not going to happen (right away),” Sofranko said. “But it is going to happen.”

Sofranko re-emphasized the need to “keep looking forward.”