Evans City, Jackson Township police agreement delayed
EVANS CITY — A planned agreement for Jackson Township to provide police services for Evans City has been delayed due to particulars over the transaction, as of this month’s Evans City borough council meeting on Wednesday, Sept 6.
At last month’s meeting, it was announced that Jackson Township was possibly willing to enter into an agreement to provide police services for Evans City in exchange for property at the borough’s reservoir. On Monday, council president Cheri Deener said that the borough still needs time to do enough research on the property in question.
“They (Jackson Township) put more on our plate than what we can handle all at one time,” Deener said. “We have to give them something in regards for them to look after us.”
According to Butler County’s GIS, the borough owns six blocks of land surrounding the reservoir, which add up to more than 130 acres. Jackson Township officials are hoping to turn the land into a community park should they acquire it.
“I need to do a lot more research on the reservoir,” Deener said. “I need to get it assessed and see what it comes out to be and look at the timbering.”
Evans City is still dealing with the possible dissolution of its current police services agreement with the borough of Seven Fields. While the Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police Department is still around for the moment, the Seven Fields Borough Council voted to begin the dissolution process at a special meeting last month.
“It’s being explored, but there’s a lot more that needs to be done before we shut the door,” said Evans City council member Brad Rubinosky.
Currently, the department is down to two full-time officers.
Last month, it was revealed that Evans City also sent feelers out to the borough of Mars for a police services partnership, although discussions did not proceed very far.
For now, Evans City will rely on the services of the Pennsylvania State Police as an auxiliary force.
