SHAMOKIN - Twenty-five individuals were approved to the four Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) Authority committees Tuesday night during the regular monthly meeting.
Each person will serve on either the conservation and trail development committee chaired by David Crowl; the operations, facility management and personnel committee chaired by Barry Yorwarth; the marketing, events, grants and fundraising committee chaired by Pat Mack; and the safety, security rules and regulations committee and Mike Schwartz.
"These are the people who will have their butts on the grounds and getting things done," Crowl said before the vote was taken.
The authority, which had its first meeting Jan. 29, was formed to oversee the operation and maintenance of the AOAA, which is being developed on 6,500 acres on county-owned forest and coal lands in Coal, East Cameron, Mount Carmel, West Cameron and Zerbe townships.
Crowl's committee will consist of Jaci Harner, Northumberland County Conservation District watershed specialist; Marty Martynowych, state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) forester; Steve Boughter, of the state Fish and Boat Commission; Jim Hyland, DCNR forest programs specialist; Lance Schwartz, Pat Scullin, George Fetterman, Tom Sebastian, Mike Greenwalt and Aaron Norquest.
Yorwarth's committee will consist of Mike Bradley and Jeff Jeffery.
Mack's committee will consist of Kathy Jeremiah, grant writer for the Northumberland County Planning Department; Dave Porzi, Dave Tamkus, Jake Nye, Eric Startzel and Joe Daniels or Ron Mackley.
Schwartz's committee consists of Craig Rhoades, Lance Schwartz, Steve Jeffreys, Eric Startzel, Jason Dunkleberger, Tracy Cecco and Garrett Snyder.
The board thanked everyone who volunteered.
"We'll put you all to work soon enough," Chairman Mike Backes said.
Allen Bubb, of Sunbury, addressed the board during the public comment portion of the meeting later and suggested forming a fifth committee to handle historical and education displays at the trailhead.
It would include photographs, models and artifacts.
Backes said the master plan actually includes such an action, and asked Bubb for his contact information should such a committee be formed.
Trailhead project
Yorwarth updated the public on the trailhead project, stating that all vegetation 5 inches and over would be removed by the end of the month to prepare for the building and parking lot.
Mack said the plans were submitted to Coal Township, who had a few issues for the board to address, and final approval can be expected in a few months.
"We're right on time with our schedule," Mack said.
Furthermore, the authority approved a series of security measures to keep unwanted individuals from access the land.
They authorized the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center students to build gates at a cost not to exceed $250 in materials and to erect gates, purchase 'no trespassing' signs and place those signs on the property.
Other business
In other business, the authority:
- Announced they met with the state Department of Environmental Protection Northcentral Regional Director Marcus Kohl and his staff.
- Announced they were given a Can Am Commander 1000 Limited, which is a side-by-side ATV worth $20,000, from AJs Outdoor, of Mansfield. The company is loaning the vehicle to the authority for use.
- Approved the submitting of an application to the Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program, which enables certain non-federal organizations, such as public agencies, to obtain personal property that the federal government no longer needs.
- Approved the North Jersey Jeep Club event for April 21, the Jeep Jamboree Guides training event on April 13 and 14 and the Jeep Mountain Jeep Alliance for June 22.