CRANBERRY TWP — The township is taking legal action after negotiations over an easement caused a sewer project to stall.

The supervisors Thursday voted to allow the township manager to take “any legal means necessary” to resolve the dispute with a Rowan Road homeowner.

Three residents on Rowan Road near the intersection with Star View Lane requested a 1,193-foot extension of municipal sanitary sewer service about a year ago, said manager Jerry Andree.

For the line to get to those three houses, it must go through the frontage of three neighboring properties. No buildings or structures would be disrupted. Two owners have agreed to the project, while the owner of 8157 Rowan Road has not.

The 8-acre property is owned by Dixie Clevenger, according to Butler County real estate records.

In attempting to negotiate a price for the easement, the property owner has been asking for much more than fair market value, Andree said.

Under state law, the township can secure the easement without reaching an agreement, though the owner has 30 days to start an appeal process if he believes that the project is unnecessary or if the price is not fair, Andree said.

The construction costs and connection fees for the project will be covered by the residents who requested the extension.

Once the easement is secured the project can begin this year because there already is a contractor lined up, Andree said.

The work will have no or minimal impact on traffic, he said.