Nesquehoning officials plan to meet with Lehigh Carbon Community College’s president next month to discuss the school’s thought to give back 40 acres that it purchased from the Kovatch family two decades ago.

On Wednesday, Councilwoman Lois Kuba said she had been in touch with President Dr. Ann Bieber regarding the school’s thoughts.

A meeting is being scheduled between the two groups.

“I think we owe it to them to listen,” Kuba said, noting that the borough may not want all 40 acres, but the land cannot be sold and must be reverted to a nonprofit, based on the contract written between the Kovatch family and LCCC at the time of the donation.

Council felt that it should also include representatives of the Nesquehoning Conservation Club in the meeting.

Linda Baker, executive director of college relations for LCCC, confirmed that a meeting is being scheduled to discuss the possible land donation, but she noted that the college is still in the “exploratory stage” and couldn’t provide any other information at this time.

The 40-plus acre tract, located off Tonoli Road in the village of Hauto was given to the LCCC Foundation in February 2004 for educational purposes and serve as an outdoor biological laboratory for students and the public in the area.

Since then, LCCC’s Carbon campus in Nesquehoning was closed, while its Tamaqua campus has grown.

Some options council discussed with the possibility of taking over a part of the land could be creating a dog park or other recreational walking area.