Following a closed-door executive session Monday, Aug. 7, Evans City borough is continuing negotiations with Jackson Township for police coverage.

Coinciding with Seven Fields borough council’s recent resolution to begin the dissolution of the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department, Evans City council member Brad Rubinosky said negotiations were “probably going to take a little bit.”

“There’s a lot of discussion that still needs to go on,” Rubinosky said. “And we haven’t even officially said, ‘Yeah, that’s what we’re doing,’ but the initial discussion was started.”

At Monday’s council meeting, Evans City heard a proposal from Jackson Township board of supervisors chairman Jay Grinnell that could see the borough exchange its reservoir property along Route 528 for police coverage by the township.

“My understanding of the wording would be that it would be more like a loan,” Rubinosky said. “And they’re going to pay back the loan with police services.”

According to Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick, the reservoir would become a public park for use by both communities.

However, Evans City council president Cheri Deener said the borough’s primary consideration with the arrangement remains police services.

“We need to take care of the ultimate concern, which is public safety,” Deener said. “After that, we can discuss anything you want to talk about.”

With the regional department down to two officers and Seven Fields seeking short-term coverage with the Cranberry Township Police Department, Deener emphasized the need for immediate coverage from the arrangement.

“Public safety comes foremost and utmost,” she said. “Then we will talk about the fun things.”

As both municipalities move on to new partnerships, the regional department’s commission will need to address its two remaining officers — Chief Joe McCombs and Sgt. Donald Meyers.

“That’s why they’re looking at a buyout situation that would carry them through,” Deener said.

According to Deener, Evans City solicitor Ryan Mergl and Seven Fields solicitor Megan Turnbull have begun negotiations for the buyout, with the pair last meeting on July 26.

At Monday’s meeting in Seven Fields, Turnbull said she had contacted Mergl ahead of the borough’s resolution to dissolve the department.

Mergl would in turn reach out to Turnbull on Tuesday, Aug. 8, according to Deener, to discuss the buyout "and see if they still are interested in doing that to get it moving down the road faster.”

“So that’s what we’re waiting to hear today, if she’s going to contact him,” she said.

The two remaining officers’ buyouts, according to Deener, would need to be the shared responsibility of the regional commission they served.

“We’ll see if that will finish up the disbandment of the whole thing,” she said. “Instead of us just having to incur it alone, it should be a commission thing. They’ve been (in both municipalities) for the last 10 to 12 years, so it should be both parties.”

After months of conflict, Deener said she was anxious for the issue to be settled.

“I don’t want to stretch it out anymore,” she said.