The County Council on Dec. 1 voted to hold Resolution 30‑425, which would authorize use of Advanced Land Acquisition funds to buy two properties: a 68.27‑acre parcel in Edgewater intended for Lock Haven Community Park expansion and a 7.911‑acre Shipley Avenue parcel in Harmans proposed as the site for a Board of Education bus facility.

Administration officials told the council the transaction would use a combination of advanced land acquisition funds and reforestation funds for the Edgewater parcel and the Advanced Land Acquisition Fund for the Harmans parcel. Central Services real estate staff said a phase‑2 environmental site assessment was underway for the Harmans site and expected by the end of the week; they said the purchase contract contains an opt‑out provision should due‑diligence reveal unacceptable issues.

Several councilmembers and witnesses raised concerns that the Shipley Avenue site sits adjacent to an EPA superfund area and that past sampling identified chromium and arsenic on the neighboring property. Members pressed staff on the timing and completeness of the phase‑2 work, remediation cost estimates, appraisal timing and why the county’s offer exceeded an earlier appraisal. Administration officials said the county had submitted an offer amid competing bids and that the contract allows cancellation during the due‑diligence period.

After discussion about environmental risk, price and the need for a bus facility, the council unanimously voted to hold the resolution until Dec. 15 so members could review the phase‑2 report and additional cost estimates.

The administration said it will provide the phase‑2 assessment and, if applicable, mitigation cost estimates for council review before the continued hearing.