At the Aug. 18 Northampton County Council meeting, council continued the public hearing regarding the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance act exemptions for deteriorated areas in Wilson Borough.

The Dixie Cup factory, 1610 Van Buren Road, has sat largely vacant for many years, but now there is a potential developer for the 636,000-square-foot building.

However, the building needs multiple repairs in order for it to once again become an asset to the borough. Some of these repairs include new windows, roofing and elevators, as well as the removal of lead paint and asbestos. These costs are anticipated to be high, leading the borough and building owner to seek LERTA exemptions.

At council’s last meeting, Councilman Kevin Lott said broken windows are a maintenance issue and asbestos is a normal renovation problem.

At the Aug. 18 meeting, Stephen Barron, county director of fiscal affairs, reported the property is around $400,000 behind in tax payments to the county, borough and the school district.

“I invite you to consider the precedent being set if you approve this LERTA,” said resident Armando Moritz- Chapelliquen.

Voting in favor of the LERTA would mean granting a tax break to a site that is $400,000 behind on various taxes and has not been physically maintained.

Both Wilson Borough and Wilson Area School District have already approved the LERTA exemptions.

County Executive Lamont McClure said, “It occurred to me that tonight is emblematic of what we are trying to accomplish in Northampton County, especially as we push back against warehouse proliferation, increased truck traffic and air pollution that is causing our asthma rates to skyrocket.”

Warehouse proliferation, increased truck traffic and air pollution are three of the many reasons residents of Wilson Borough are opposed to the LERTA exemptions.

Building owner Joseph Reibman stated the building is one already in existence. Further, when the building was in use, there were a maximum of 50 to 60 trucks going in and out over a 24-hour period.

After hearing from various speakers, county council voted 8-1 against the LERTA exemptions.

In other business, council approved a motion adding the 42-acre Bodnarczuk Preserve to Northampton County’s now 22 parks and preserves. The addition of the preserve brings the county to 3,600 acres of natural area preserved since 2006, with 333 of those acres being preserved since 2018.

Council will next meet 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at the county building, 669 Washington St., Easton.