The Berks County commissioners voted Tuesday to take legal action to prevent the city from blocking the $4.55 million sale of airport-owned land to a county agency for a research park.

The commissioners agreed it is imperative the Reading Regional Airport sell the 203 acres to the Berks County Industrial Development Authority.

City Council voted Sept. 22 to sue the airport authority to prevent the sale from going through.

Subsequently, the Federal Aviation Administration notified the airport authority that it would not allow the sale if the city litigation is pending.

Commissioner Mark C. Scott, chairman, said the sale must go through to ensure that the airport pays its $8 million debt.

"The city has orchestrated a roadblock for the sale of the land," Scott said.

City officials said they don't believe the city wanted the land sold for nonairport uses when it turned over the land to what is now the airport authority in 1957.

Councilman Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr. said the city's goal is to make sure the land is protected for airport purposes.

"Our goal is not to get in the way of progress," he said. "If they choose to no longer use the land for airport purposes, the land should revert back to the city."

The commissioners agreed that the sale is necessary to create jobs and prevent taxpayers from spending money on the airport authority debt.

Michael A. Setley, airport authority chairman, said the sale is needed to generate funding to pay for $8 million in debt incurred from airport improvements in 2004.

"We may have to look to the county for help if we can't sell the land," Setley said.

The county hopes to use the land for a research park for the food processing industry working with Penn State University and other colleges.

Thomas McKeon, director of the industrial authority, said the authority has the funds and is willing to purchase the land.

"We hope we would be breaking ground within the next year," McKeon said.

The commissioners agreed that the legal expenses incurred to stop the city from fighting the project would be far less than the potential loss if the project does not proceed.

County Commissioners Kevin S. Barnhart and Christian Y. Leinbach agreed that the city does not have the right to approve or disapprove the sale of the land.

"I strongly support taking action now," Leinbach said of the litigation in county court.

County Solicitor Alan S. Miller said he would file the appropriate legal action.