Carbon County Weekly Brief

Tracking taxes, policy, and power.

Week of February 23, 2026

• Carbon County recently received a significant federal boost to modernize its emergency services. The $2.1 million grant will be used to transition the local 9-1-1 dispatch system from analog to digital and improve radio communication for police, fire, ambulance, and sheriff’s responders. An additional $60,000 grant will replace outdated computers in the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. Officials and first responders gathered for the announcement, expressing appreciation and noting the upgrades will enhance dispatch accuracy and emergency readiness, though some departments may still need to update their own radios.

• Penn Forest Township held a public meeting to go over revisions to its proposed zoning ordinance amendment that would regulate data centers in the township, especially around a roughly 750-acre site near Route 903 and Maury Road. The updated 45-page draft now includes an area of influence requiring water studies and well testing, increases the allowable building height, adds strict setbacks and vegetative buffer requirements, and tightens standards for air quality, lighting, noise and wildlife protection. Residents voiced concerns about impacts on local wells, wildlife and endangered species. Supervisors plan to decide on adopting the ordinance at their March 2 meeting.

• A proposed data center project in Nesquehoning took a key step forward when the Nesquehoning Zoning Hearing Board granted Bitfarms Ltd. a special exception to pursue development on land currently zoned R-1 but lying in an industrial area, enabling the company to advance its land development plan. At the hearing, company officials outlined plans for 297 full-time jobs and more than 400 construction jobs, addressed questions about impacts like noise, traffic, water and electricity use, and emphasized intentions to hire locally. Some residents voiced concerns about environmental effects and property values, but the board voted 3-0 to approve the exception, contingent on compliance with forthcoming borough ordinance requirements.

• Franklin Township supervisors are planning to streamline how residents are billed for garbage and sewage services by combining what were previously separate bills into a single quarterly statement. This will simplify the payment process for both the township office and customers. The change will shift garbage from an annual bill to being included with the quarterly sewage bill, with options for online and ACH payments added to reduce handling of checks and cash. Officials say senior citizen rates won’t change, and they’re close to rolling out the new system, though bills haven’t been mailed yet and no late fees will be charged on the first combined billing cycle.

• Weatherly Borough Council recently updated its fee schedules for subdivision, land development and zoning reviews. The previous charges were outdated and no longer covered the borough’s actual administrative costs. Mayor/Council President Michael Bellizia said the revision is part of a broader reorganization to bring fees in line with current expenses. During the same meeting, council postponed action on an ordinance to vacate several public streets pending further property information, and local veterans group leaders sought permission for upcoming parades and use of borough facilities, which officials said they generally supported while confirming dates and details.