Ephrata Council authorizes condemnation filings to acquire property

Ephrata Borough Council voted Feb. 9 to adopt Resolution No. 2026-09 authorizing the filing of a declaration of taking and condemnation to acquire fee-simple absolute title in portions of certain properties situated in the Borough. The motion was moved by Council Member Chad Ochs and seconded by Council Member Kory Musser and carried unanimously.

Council discussed the item after the Development Activities Committee recommended the action; the committee had advised including the resolution on the posted agenda and the solicitor disclosed the council had met in executive session earlier to discuss potential litigation related to property acquisition. The minutes record the motion and unanimous result but do not specify parcel identifiers or owner names.

The council did not vote recorded roll-call tallies naming each member’s vote in the minutes beyond the notation “motion carried unanimously.” No additional details on the timing of the filing or subsequent court actions were provided at the meeting. Solicitor Isaac Wakefield and Borough Manager Karen Gerhart were listed as present and involved in agenda preparation; council members present included President Greg Zimmerman, Vice President Victor Richard, President Pro Tempore Alan Buohl, and council members Alan Armstrong, Nancy Aronson, Timothy Barr, Kory Musser and Chad Ochs.

Council did not provide a public timetable for relocation, compensation offers, or the specific parcels targeted in the resolution during the meeting. The action advances the Borough’s authority to proceed with condemnation filings; any future steps, such as notices to property owners, appraisals, or court filings, were not specified in the minutes.