Carbon County will use money from a $10 million land preservation bond it has yet to buy to purchase 45 acres of land near Mauch Chunk Lake that has been the source of much discussion over the last several months.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners unanimously approved an agreement of sale with Edward and Regina Kanick to purchase a large portion of undeveloped land near the breast of Mauch Chunk Lake at a cost of $238,000. Kanick will retain about 10 acres of land after the purchase.

The commissioners said that the county will use general funds for the purchase and will be able to be reimbursed once the land preservation bond is issued because the land in question will be preserved as part of the park.

The county can also apply for a grant that would help cover 50% of the cost for the purchase.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein texted Kanick immediately following the vote, saying that the purchase has been approved. He received a message back from Kanick, which he read out loud, saying that Kanick will now wait to hear from the county solicitor regarding the contract and closing.

Nothstein thanked Kanick for working with the county to resolve this matter. Kanick had initially proposed constructing nine homes on the property and requested a zoning change in Jim Thorpe to allow on-site septic at least 1,000 feet from the lake instead of a half-mile that is now required.

Nothstein said that this purchase will help preserve and protect the quality of the soils around the lake as well as the lake and Mauch Chunk creek waters.

While this was going on, a demonstration by Save Carbon County was taking place outside the administration building in support of denying Kanick’s zoning request.