When Catasauqua Council met in special session June 12 to vote for a third time in six weeks on the purchase of the FL Smidth property along Front Street, Councilwoman Mitzi Smith changed her vote to 'yes' and the measure passed, 4-3.

"I don't believe that the borough should be in the land development business and I said I would vote 'yes' when the borough teamed up with a developer," she told The Press Monday. "I voted for the project in December when we had a developer."

When developer Weston Solutions dropped out of the plan in May, she changed her mind.

"I was angry that they delayed so long and took up so much of our time," she said. "When we met in executive session earlier in June, we agreed that Front Street was the best place to build."

After council's regular meeting June 3, Councilman Eugene Schlegel had suggested council meet in executive session.

The details of the session were enough to convince Smith to change her vote.

"We are only voting to purchase the land from FL Smidth," said Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich in his introduction at the special meeting.

The largely pro-purchase crowd took up every available chair and applauded every positive comment.

Since the purchase will use money that was set aside in the budget for an emergency service building, Mayor Barbara Schlegel does not have veto control over the funding. The measure passed and the process moves to conclusion, as explained by Dimmich.

"We completed title work on tracts 1 and 5, but there are still questions on tract 8," he said. The largest tract in the purchase is tract 1. Tract 8 had conflicting ownership issues because the railroad runs through it.

Clearing the title and preparing the sales agreement are tasks Dimmich must complete before the end of the month to meet the FL Smidth deadline.

"It's a tough task and we might miss by a couple of days, but I think FL Smidth will give as a little leeway now that they know we have a deal," Dimmich said.

Smith told The Press she continues to be concerned with the cost.

"I am concerned about increasing taxes to pay for the project," she said. "Twenty percent of the people in Catasauqua are on a fixed income, like I am. We need to respect their concerns about this project."

Smith considered a proposal to purchase and convert the vacant bank building on Bridge Street for municipal use.

"That would take care of the police [station], but I like the idea of having everything in one place," she said. "In my three terms on council, we always talked about getting a new fire station and now a new police station."

Purchasing the land does not build an emergency services building.

The borough must now determine what parts of the property officials are willing to keep for borough buildings and what portion they want to sell.

Any land sold will need to be bid with the property going to the highest bidder.

"There is still a long way to go on the project," said Dimmich. "But we need to concentrate on these first steps right now."

Some had forecast a 'no' would change to a 'yes' for Councilman Eugene Schlegel as well, but that did not happen.

"I am generally in favor of the project," he said in a telephone interview after the vote. "I think there is potential to waste a million dollars in taxpayer money by buying polluted land. We drained our reserves to do it."

He had counted on Weston Solutions to be able to spend money to get this done.

"I had to go with my gut on this one and I voted 'no.'"

Schlegel did pledge to work with the borough to get the project done. He wants council to review plans to reuse the bank building.

"The place is rewired and there are no pollution concerns," he said.

But Smith said she thinks the best bet for finally providing the long-promised facilities for fire and police departments is to go with the land purchase.

"If we continue along as we have been, it won't get done for another 10 years," she said. "I am still concerned about the cost and I will watch every expense, but this is something we need to get done."