After about two years of on-and-off legal and political wrangling, Evans City and Jackson Township seem about ready to end a dispute over about 130 acres.

The piece of property, which includes a 19-acre lake, is in Jackson Township but owned by Evans City. In 2023, there were negotiations about trading the property for police protection from Jackson Township.

That idea didn’t make it far, but by then Jackson Township had proposed turning the land into a park. In May 2024, Jackson Township filed to take the land via eminent domain, which prompted an appeal by Evans City.

As we learned in the Friday, May 16, edition of the Butler Eagle, though, an agreement seems to be at hand.

At the Jackson Township board of supervisors meeting Thursday, the board OK’d paying about $1.2 million for the land and contributing $40,000 per year for five years to Evans City’s EDCO Park.

Evans City could approve the deal as early as its June 2 meeting.

“We’re optimistic that Evans City may, at their next meeting, approve the same,” Jackson Township Manager Chris Rearick said. “That would enable us to voluntarily and mutually enter into an agreement and facilitate the voluntary transfer of the property for the consideration noted in the agreement.”

After a breakdown in negotiations and mutual legal action, it’s good to see two municipalities settling things through negotiation.

— JK