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Jeepnharleymomma:
I will post news for the AOAA as I receive it.

Jeepnharleymomma:
Volunteers clean up trash on AOAA land

BURNSIDE - Volunteers filled a 30-yard roll-off container to the brim this weekend with trash strewn about Burnside Mountain.

"It's overflowing, so everybody did a great job," Kathy Jeremiah, planning department grants manager for Northumberland County, said of the container and the efforts of volunteers.

The cleanup was organized by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and Northumberland County Planning Department and was held Saturday and Sunday. It included participation of about 30 volunteers, some of whom came as far away as Philadelphia and the Washington, D.C. area.

Some volunteers were locals, others were members of out-of-area off-road clubs.

The cleanup was the second coordinated by the nonprofit organization and the county department on the land being developed as the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.

The volunteers concentrated on picking up burn piles filled with household trash and construction debris, Jeremiah said.

A skid loader was instrumental in the cleanup and was donated by Jeff's Auto Body and Recycling, Paxinos, while the roll-off was donated by Waste Management.

Jeepnharleymomma:
Benefit ride for Geisinger Children's Miracle Network at AOAA

 COAL TOWNSHIP - Something happens when Shawn Fenstermacher rides his ATV through trails such as the ones at the proposed Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) Sunday morning.

"It's nice to get away and travel to new places. It's just you and the 4-wheeler. It's like there's nothing else," the 19-year-old Schnecksville man said next to his Yamaha Banshee 350 twin.

He and his parents and sister were out Sunday as part of the benefit ride for the Geisinger Children's Miracle Network (CMN).

Although he's been riding four years, mostly on Reading Anthracite property, this is his first time on the county land, and he said he looks forward to the park's official opening.

"Trying to find somewhere to ride is hard. It will be nice to know exactly where to ride, so we can feel welcome, so people don't look at us like 'you're a 4-wheeler, you shouldn't be here,'" he said.

The ride was sponsored by the Anthracite Trail Riders, a local ATV club that formed last year, and the AOAA, which is being developed on 6,500 acres of Northumberland County-owned land in Coal, East Cameron, Mount Carmel, West Cameron and Zerbe townships. The land was open to all sorts of off-road enthusiasts, including people with all-terrain and utility vehicles, dirt bikes and recreational vehicles.

The event brought in 245 participants. Registration fees were $15 for operators and $10 for passengers, and all proceeds benefit children at Janet Weis Children's Hospital, Geisinger Wyoming Valley and more than 40 medical groups and outreach clinics.

The ride was nearly 25 miles total through trails filled with rocks and deep mud puddles, and offered an easier paths for beginners and a more advanced path for experienced riders.

"We want to promote this park and raise money for the network. It's a good opportunity to show the park off and show the positive influence it can have on the area," Matt Schiccitano, president of the Anthracite Trail Rides, said.

Local vendors, businesses and organizations benefited as well, Schiccitano said.

Friendship Fire and Hose, One Smart Cookie Anthracite Trail Riders were on site to offer food, Forest Hill Fire Company offered ATV washes and Gap Racing, of Locust Gap, and Randy Schreffler's Equipment, of Pitman, and Valley Ag and Turf, of Watsontown, and Advanced Machining Services, of Mount Carmel, had display booths.

It was the first benefit of its kind for the miracle network, and it was right up her alley for off-highway vehicle enthusiast Cally Kailie, assistant coordinator for Janet Weis Children's Hospital.

"It's a great turn out. We can only build from this. It's a great thing and a great family activity," she said.

She said they provided a $7,500 grant for a safety program in relation to the park, which would provide helmets and goggles for riders.

"We want to promote safety. We want to make sure people are wearing helmets and eye protection," Kallie said.

All participants were required to wear a securely fastened helmet with eye protection, proper clothing and foot attire during the trail ride. Safety restraints in a side-by-side had to be securely fastened and young riders had to be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. People under the age of 16 were not permitted to operate an ATV unless they had completed an ATV safety training course, and no one under the age of 12 was allowed operate a machine.

Furthermore, Kailie said, the proposed park is an attraction that will be a "great boost for the area."

Kathy Jeremiah, planning department grants manager for Northumberland County, said the ride was fantastic.

"We thought everything went very well. There was a lot of positive feedback from the riders. Everyone had a great time. Everything went smoothly," she said later Sunday afternoon.

The only downside was the dreary weather, which she said kept their number of participants down.

The benefit ride committee and the hospital coordinators will be meeting again in two weeks to decide on a date for next year and determine the final amount of money raised from the event.

Jeepnharleymomma:

No fee, waiver to hunt AOAA


SUNBURY - Hunting will be allowed at no cost at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) between the middle of November and end of January and the county planning department will be responsible for enforcing rules and regulations for the park until an authority established Monday by the county commissioners takes over operation of the off-highway vehicle park in January.

Outside of hunting season, the AOAA land will be open only to formally organized groups.

Operating hours for the AOAA will be from dawn until dusk and nobody will be granted access to the park after dusk unless they obtain a special camping permit.

A policy to establish rules for the AOAA and the advertisement of a proposed ordinance enforcing regulations involving use of the county-owned land were approved on a 2-1 vote at Monday's special meeting.

Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy approved the policy and advertisement of the ordinance, while Commissioner Richard Shoch voted against them.

The rules and regulations are the same set forth in the AOAA master plan adopted by the commissioners Dec. 6, 2011.

Hunting season at the AOAA is defined in the policy as the period of time, excluding Sundays or other days prohibited by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, between the beginning of black bear archery season (typically mid-November) and the end of deer archery season (typically the end of January) as determined by the Pennsylvania Game Commission calendar.

However, in the event the beginning or ending dates set for those seasons are significantly altered, the planning department shall be authorized to alter the beginning and ending dates of the AOAA hunting season.

During the AOAA hunting season, the AOAA, which is defined in the master plan as approximately 6,500 acres in Coal, East Cameron, West Cameron, Mount Carmel and Zerbe townships, hunters and fishermen will not be required to request permission, obtain permission slips or execute waivers of liability as required by the policy for other activities. Hunting will be unsupervised and a walk-in only activity; no parking will be allowed on AOAA property.

All other activities on the AOAA during the AOAA hunting season shall be prohibited, except for Sundays or other days when hunting is prohibited.

Handicapped and disabled hunters who have obtained proper clearances and permission from the game commission and/or state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to hunt with a motorized or assistance vehicle will be permitted to hunt on the land during the AOAA hunting season.

Other activities

The planning department will receive and review all applications for usage of the AOAA. All applications will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis and may be denied by the county planning department if it is determined an application conflicts with other previously scheduled events.

So as to prevent one group from monopolizing usage of the AOAA, once an applicant has been granted permission to use the land, that applicant shall not be granted permission to use the land to the exclusion of another applicant for three months. Applications for usage shall not be for a period longer than 48 hours.

The planning department shall make all reasonable attempts to accommodate multiple usages of AOAA lands. It shall be the goal of the policy to accommodate as many different types of activities and organizations as possible in an effort to help promote the AOAA.

If it is determined by the planning department that an applied for time, date, location or activity cannot be accommodated, another time, date, location or activity may be suggested.

All applications for usage of the land must be received by the planning department at least one week prior to the date of the applicant's requested use. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

The following parties shall not be required to file applications with the planning department to gain access to the AOAA:

- Northumberland County employees or officials who receive permission from the planning department to enter the AOAA.

- Contractors hired by the county to perform work on the AOAA land, and subcontractors hired by the contractors as long as they are acting within the scope of their work.

- Any utility company employees, security personnel engaged by the county, police, fire or other emergency officials acting within the scope of their duties.

- Any person appointed as a guide who is acting at the direction of the planning department.

Formally organized groups only

An applicant must be a formally organized group and verification must be provided. Adequate proof shall include articles of incorporation, bylaws, proof of 501(c)(3) status or other similar documentation.

The applicant must have liability insurance in an amount to be set for all applicants by the planning department and provide proof of the insurance at the time of application.

The applicant must read and acknowledge all of the rules of the AOAA.

The total number of participants in an applicant's group must be greater than six adults and all participants must be listed on the applicant's application.

The applicant must have a designated contact person and must agree to have each participant sign a waiver of liability, which must be signed and submitted before any permit will be granted. Failure to have the designated minimum number of people participate on the dates of usage will result in the applicant being banned from future usage.

Due to dangers associated with the AOAA, a list of approved guides will be provided to applicants if requested. The planning department shall advise all applicants whose participants do not include an approved guide that a guide be consulted prior to use.

In the event of an emergency, the planning department may close the AOAA to everyone other than emergency personnel for a period no longer than until the next meeting of the county commissioners.

All applicants granted permits must stay within the confines of the AOAA, excluding normal ingress and egress at the main entrance. They will be provided with an AOAA map and must park their vehicles not being used in AOAA activities in a designated area of the AOAA.

Applicants approved for permits must agree to abide by all rules as provided to the contact person, who must review the rules with participants prior to use of the property. The contact persons must agree that they are the responsible party for the conduct of the applicant group.

All applicants approved for permits must follow all local, state and federal rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, statutes or laws.

The planning department shall have the authority to adopt further rules to reasonably regulate the conduct of users of the land and the ability to promulgate the rules shall be considered an administrative function of the planning department.

Under a proposed ordinance adopted by the commissioners, any person violating the rules and regulations of the AOAA will be ordered to pay the county a fine of not more than $600 plus court costs for each violation, and/or face possible imprisonment of not more than 10 days.

Jeepnharleymomma:
Hunters ask for more access


 SUNBURY - In what may have been their final action before turning over decisions regarding the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) to a five-member authority that takes office in January, Northumberland County commissioners enacted an ordinance on a split vote Tuesday that enforces regulations outlined in a policy adopted last week by the commissioners.

The policy and ordinance formally in place, it ironically leaves David M. Kaleta, 54, of 146 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin - who sued the commissioners and county last month for banning him from the AOAA property and allegedly violating the Sunshine Act - as the lone individual with full access to the AOAA until the authorized hunting time begins next month.

That's because Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor last month approved Kaleta's request for an injunction that stops the county from banning him from the property while his lawsuit proceeds.

However, Kaleta's access may be short-lived, too.

The commissioners, on the same 2-1 vote, with Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi approving and Richard Shoch opposed, authorized Attorney Robert Hanna of Harrisburg to file a motion in federal court to lift the injunction involving Kaleta so the same rules and regulations pertaining to others for the AOAA will apply to him as well.

Two weeks ago, Hanna filed a motion in federal court to dismiss Kaleta's suit with prejudice, claiming he doesn't state a viable First Amendment retaliation claim in the complaint and that Saylor erred by stating Bridy and Clausi violated the Sunshine Act by taking action to ban Kaleta from the property.

Too quick

Shoch said the policy was put together too quickly and doesn't accommodate enough hunters and bikers. He also claimed too much power was given to the planning department in developing the rules and regulations.

As Shoch was finishing his comments, Clausi accused the commissioner of being a "troublemaker" for inviting people to the meeting to voice opposition to the AOAA rules.

The 6,500 acres of county-owned land that will make up the AOAA has been open to hunting for decades, but development of the off-highway vehicle park and a controversy over access to the property this fall has resulted in action on the new policy.

Hunting will be allowed, at no cost, on all AOAA land, but only between the middle of November and end of January.

The county planning department will be responsible for enforcing rules and regulations for the park until the authority takes over.

The ordinance states that any person violating the rules and regulations of the AOAA will be ordered to pay the county a fine of not more than $600 plus court costs for each violation, and/or face possible imprisonment of not more than 10 days.

Kaleta only one, for now

Hunters object

Prior to the ordinance being adopted, Kaleta and several others questioned the commissioners about hunting restrictions on AOAA property and other concerns.

Kaleta advised the commissioners to "take a step back" from the ordinance so other residents can use the land for hunting before the authority takes over operation of the property in January.

Kaleta's wife, Kathi, told the commissioners to put aside personal grudges and do what's right for the county. "We must unite the county instead of creating a wedge between people," she said.

She also said there are special days set aside by the state game commission for hunting, which would be prohibited under the policy for the AOAA.

Bridy responded, "We need this proposed ordinance so we aren't open to lawsuits that will hurt the taxpayers."

Patrick Bendas of Kulpmont, an avid hunter and ATV rider, said he is opposed to not allowing hunting until mid-November because it leaves out the fall turkey and archery deer seasons.

Richard Post of Shamokin told the commissioners they were "pushing for big money" while "pushing little people out" by developing the AOAA.

James Koharski of Coal Township asked if there are any activities planned for the AOAA before January. Pat Mack, county planning and industrial development director, said there are a few events planned.

Kallie Liendo of Coal Township said enforcement of the rules for the AOAA will be very difficult and could lead to taxes being increased if police patrols are utilized for added security.

Year round hunting?

Clausi, who repeatedly told citizens the policy and ordinance could change when the authority takes over, said there are plans in place for next year for approximately 500 acres of AOAA property to be set aside for hunting year-round. Although he didn't specify what area, Mack said after the meeting that he expects the 342-acre Alaska site near Excelsior to be included in that 500 acres.

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