The Evans City borough council is considering tax breaks for volunteer firefighters.

Council member Karl Kennedy proposed at their Monday meeting that the council form a committee, citing recent changes in state law and Cranberry Township’s recent decision to offer their firefighters tax breaks.

The council unanimously approved the motion.

“This is a very small ‘thank you’ for all you do,” said Lee Dyer, borough council president.

Act 172, signed by Gov. Tom Wolf last fall, permits municipalities to offer a real estate or earned income tax credit to active members of volunteer fire companies and nonprofit emergency medical service agencies.

Cranberry Township was the first to take advantage, approving an ordinance on Oct. 26 that would give eligible volunteer firefighters up to a $250 earned income tax credit.

Zelienople and Penn Township also are considering similar ordinances, according to Adam Hartwig, executive director of the Butler County Council of Governments.

In other news, John Paul, executive director for the Butler Transit Authority, addressed the council at the meeting, updating them on the BTA’s efforts to bring buses from Butler County to Pittsburgh.

Paul also proposed an agreement in which the BTA would lease 25 parking spaces at EDCO Swimming Pool for $4,500 for nine months, or $20 a month. They will not use the spaces from Memorial Day to Labor Day, which is when the pool is in use.

The BTA also will contribute an additional $2,500 annually for maintenance costs.

The Authority is asking Evans City to contribute $3,500 in matching funds.

“We’re hoping this helps attract people to Evans City,” Paul said.

The BTA also is hoping to use federal funds to repave the parking lot if after three years the program is shown to be successful. The funds are in place, though Paul said there is no guarantee that PennDOT will release them.

Trips for seniors age 65 and older are free, and the buses will come fitted with wireless Internet and outlets which commuters can use to charge devices.

The council is now considering the agreement, gathering information and discussing it among themselves and borough residents.

If they decide to move forward, the proposed lease would last five years.

The borough also heard from Rick Reifenstein, an Evans City resident who is concerned about the speed of traffic going past the school on West Main Street.

“It’s a very dangerous situation,” Reifenstein said. “It’s very difficult to cross.”

He has communicated with PennDOT who told him there was not much they could do as the area in question is not in a residential zone.

The council has reached out to PennDOT with similar results.

“We’ve been working with PennDOT and have gotten nowhere with them,” said Dyer. “Let us look at this.”

Other council members brainstormed ways to slow traffic and notify motorists to watch for pedestrians, such as using signs. More research is needed for the legality and efficacy of these methods.

The issue is safety, primarily for the kids, according to Reifenstein.