The Butler County commissioners on Wednesday approved the tax sale of small parcel in Evans City to their colleague.

Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton approved Commissioner Jim Eckstein’s $2,894 purchase of a 10-foot-by-145-foot parcel adjacent to a lot at the corner of North Washington Street and Wahl Avenue.

Eckstein abstained from the vote, citing a conflict of interest.

McCarrier said the sale, which required a commissioners’ vote, had to be approved.

“Mr. Eckstein has followed all the procedures,” McCarrier said.

McCarrier said he previously spoke to county solicitor Mike English, who did not attend the meeting, about the issue.

“He said we should approve this because all of the items of the law were followed,” McCarrier said.

Just as Eckstein has been fighting to stave off a demolition of the house on the main parcel, he argued against a neighbor’s wishes to prevent the sale.

Jeremy Mahafkey, who lives on the neighboring property on Wahl Avenue, initially said he had a deed to the small parcel being sold.

Mahafkey unsuccessfully argued the commissioners should delay a sale until ownership could be clarified.

He described the situation as “misplaced paperwork.”

However, Janet Mentel, county tax claim director, said the property deed was listed in another person’s name.

Eckstein pointed out taxes had not been paid on the sliver of land for decades, leading to becoming the final type of tax sale that results when all other attempts have failed.

“It languished in the repository,” he said.

Mahafkey repeatedly offered to pay the back taxes on the land so he could acquire it.

“I would pay in cash,” he said.

Eckstein said it’s far too late to start a bidding war for the property. According to Eckstein, there are 400 similar parcels in the repository.

“We’re opening Pandora’s box,” he said about granting Mahafkey’s wishes.

Mahafkey, who stressed he had two structures on the disputed parcel, also tried to play the card of property maintenance.

“I’ve been maintaining it for 12 years even if I didn’t own it before,” he said.

Eckstein said the court precedent for maintenance of land leading to ownership is more than 20 years.

Mahafkey disagreed, saying the actual number is nine.

Eckstein accused Mahafkey of changing his story throughout the meeting.

“You can’t have it both ways,” Eckstein said.

He threatened legal action if the commissioners did not approve the sale.

“I’m going to have a court challenge on this,” Eckstein said.

Although Pinkerton initially said the board should consider Mahafkey’s offer to pay the back taxes, the commissioner reluctantly voted with McCarrier to approve the sale.