District solicitor recommends $5,000 payment to secure Londale Farm drainage easement, terminates unused sewer easement

The Owen J. Roberts School District’s solicitor recommended the district pay Londale Farm $5,000 for a drainage easement rather than pursue condemnation, and the finance committee moved the agreement and termination of an unused sewer easement to the full board for consideration.

At the working session, attorney Dave Alabach said the drainage from the school property crosses Londale Farm and the district originally had two options: negotiate an easement or condemn. "We finally made an offer of $5,000," Alabach said, adding that condemnation would require township, county and state approvals and an appraisal — a process he described as "very time consuming." He noted that condemnation would also expose the district to costs the law entitles property owners to recover.

Alabach said the district also identified a previously negotiated sanitary sewer easement tied to the Lundale Farm property that was never used and agreed to terminate that easement. Board members clarified the payment would be a single, one‑time payment.

After questions from committee members, the chair sought and received a motion and second to move the Londale Farm drainage easement agreement with South Coventry Township, and the termination of the Lundale Farm sanitary sewer easement, to the full board for a vote at its next meeting.

If the full board approves the referral, the agreement and the termination would return to the board for formal action; the solicitor said negotiation avoids the additional time and expense of condemnation proceedings. The full board will take up the item at its next scheduled meeting.