Apr. 26—POTTSVILLE — A motion to rescind the agreement to sell two parcels of land in Tremont Twp. failed at the Schuylkill County commissioners meeting Wednesday.
Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. made the motion, which died when it wasn't seconded.
"We owe it to the citizens to make sure we are doing the right thing," Halcovage said.
The commissioners voted 2-1 in March to sell the tracts to The Nature Conservancy Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter and the Pennsylvania Game Commission for $1,375,000.
Commissioners Barron L. "Boots" Hetherington, chairman, and Gary J. Hess voted yes, while Halcovage voted no.
The land is made up of a 231.7-acre tract east of Interstate 81 and a 743.8-acre tract west of I-81 and south of the Porter Twp. line.
Solicitor Paul Datte said that once the sales agreement is completed, it will be presented to the commissioners for a final vote.
Before the failed motion was made, residents spoke about the proposed sale.
The smaller parcel was mined and subsequently reclaimed, but it's possible coal is still there, a state Department of Environmental Protection representative said in an email last week.
The larger parcel drains into the Lebanon Reservoir in Pine Grove Twp., and mining is prohibited there.
Craig Morgan, of Wayne Twp., a former manager of the Schuylkill Conservation District, advocated preserving the land while recognizing coal mining's importance to the region, including in ongoing reclamation efforts.
Frank Snyder, of Orwigsburg, a retired forester and member of the Schuylkill County Conservancy, said that public access to the land will benefit everyone.
Sue Reier, of Pottsville, also a member of the Schuylkill County Conservancy, stressed the importance of protecting the environment.
"The natural world around us has proven to be our best and indispensable health and wellness resource," Reier said. "It must be protected."
Barry Jones, of McKeansburg, who said he served with the game commission for more than 30 years, is a proponent of selling the land to the game commission and nature conservancy.
"I'm not opposed to mining," Jones said. "We need it, but where does that drainage go when the mining starts?"
Zach Reinoehl, of Tower City, president of the Anthracite Upland Pointing Dog Association, which owns 53 acres near the smaller parcel, is against the sale to the game commission and conservancy.
He requested a public sale of the land, something Dave Williams, a Hegins Twp. resident and former mining engineer, said should have been done.
Williams, at a prior meeting, told the commissioners that there likely is still coal on the smaller parcel.
Larry Bender, a Tremont Twp. supervisor, is against the proposed sale to the game commission and conservancy, saying that the land could fetch more from other buyers.
However, Datte said the county code permits the land be sold for conservation purposes.
Nicole Wooten, land protection manager with The Nature Conservancy, reiterated the importance of the parcels, which abut state game lands and will be owned by the game commission.
Among other things, the smaller tract is an important area for birds and other animals, she said.
The game commission having the land "ensures that it is managed for wildlife habitat and that it remains public forever and not subject to potential future sale," Wooten said.
Officials from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have visited the sites, she said.
Funding for the sale would come from the game commission and a grant the conservancy is seeking from the DCNR.
Despite not having the money to pay for the land yet, Wooten said, the conservancy will find the funding.
"We would not put forward a purchase agreement without committing to finding that funding, no matter where we need to look for it," she said.
However, substantial modifications to the agreement will delay the process, Wooten said.
Halcovage contended the sales agreement was "hasty" and that more information was needed.
Hess said the commissioners did their due diligence and appreciated comments from the public.
Hetherington said earlier that he had spoken to the game commission and the conservancy, and that if the parcels were separated, then the grant funding would be denied.
"There's a lot of possibility, a lot of hypotheticals here" about potential coal reserves, Hetherington said.
In pointed comments, Hetherington called Halcovage a "hypocrite" for being concerned about money related to the land sale.
"You're worried about getting a couple hundred thousand dollars more in royalties," Hetherington said. "How much money has the county spent on your legal fees? Do you want to guess?"
Hetherington said it was close to $1 million.
Halcovage has been sued in federal court by four women, all county employees, who claim sexual harassment and assault.
A Republican, he denies the allegations and is seeking one of the two party nominations for commissioner.
Hetherington is also a Republican seeking one of the nominations.
