Schuylkill County Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr.’s attempt to rescind the proposed $1.37 million sale of two parcels of land in Tremont Township to the Nature Conservancy on behalf of the state Game Commission died Wednesday for lack of support.

It wasn’t a quiet death: Commissioners Chairman Barron L. Hetherington, angered by Halcovage’s protracted and intense questioning of those involved, erupted after Halcovage cut into Commissioner Gary J. Hess’ time to speak.

“Are you done now, Commissioner? Because I had the floor and then you took questions,” Hess said.

Halcovage apologized for overstepping.

Hetherington said the votes had been taken, and so the matter was closed.

“It’s time to stop being a dysfunctional commissioner and help us get the work done,” he told Halcovage.

Halcovage did not acknowledge Hetherington’s remarks, instead asking mining engineer Dave Williams of Hegins Township to address the points Hetherington and Hess had spoken about.

He also questioned Nature Conservancy staff member Nicole Wooten, Williams, and Assistant County Solicitor Paul J. Datte.

Commissioners on March 8 agreed by a 2-1 vote, with Halcovage opposed, to approve the proposed sale of two parcels in Tremont Township for $1.37 million to the Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania on behalf of the state Game Commission.

Halcovage opposed the sale for two reasons, the first being the sale price was below the county’s tradition of not selling land for less than $2 an acre. The second reason was access to coal remaining in the land.

Land sale

One parcel is 744 acres, near the Lebanon Reservoir. The other is 232 acres. Both parcels have been mined for coal in the past.

The larger parcel is not an issue. It’s too close to the reservoir to be mined.

A coal mining operation wants to buy or lease the smaller parcel, which still has coal.

The sale is still in the proposal stage. County solicitors still need to review it and negotiate access, permits and other factors. The conservancy has applied for grant money to buy the parcels, but has yet to secure the funding.

Williams on April 19 spoke on behalf of the Hegins Township coal operation.

Halcovage wants to sell or lease the smaller parcel to the coal operation. After it’s depleted, the land could then be sold to the Conservancy, he has said.

Datte stopped Williams’ response to Halcovage’s question.

“We had pubic comment, and Mr. Williams spoke during public comment,” Datte said.

Halcovage started to say something, but Hetherington cut him off.

“You’re being dysfunctional, you’re being disruptive,” he said.

“Commissioner, I’m a public servant, and I’m here to listen to the public,” Halcovage started to say.

“You’re worried about getting a couple of hundred thousand dollars more in royalties. How much money has the county spent on your legal fees?” Hetherington said.

Halcovage is embroiled in a federal sexual harassment lawsuit filed by four women who work at the courthouse. They filed the suit in 2021, accusing the commissioner of sexually harassing them, then retaliating against them for filing the suit.

Hetherington said the smaller parcel was last mined in 2010, then the area was reclaimed. An inspection done during the end of the mining determined that about $80,000 worth of coal remained.

That’s not enough to be worth it for anyone to purchase the land for mining, he said.

At this point, he said, the issue is one of possibilities. They include whether or not the Nature Conservancy will get the grant to purchase the land for the Game Commission, and whether the county ultimately decides whether or not to sell it.

“There are a lot of hypotheticals out there,” Hetherington said.

Hess said that if the funding for the sale doesn’t go through, “it’s back to square one” because the Nature Conservancy would have to start from scratch to get the needed approvals and grants.

He compared the sale to the county’s recent acquisition of Frog Hollow, which is making its way through financing and permitting procedures.

Hess said he checked with county solicitors and Frank Zukas, CEO of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, “to make sure everything’s correct.”

“You’re saying you’re against this thing, but ...”

He then read aloud Halcovage’s statement from the March 8 meeting when commissioners approved the proposed sale.

“Since the county looks to receive $1.3 million for this land, if approved today, I’m asking my fellow commissioners to put that money toward the cost of reassessment, and that amount will save costs to the taxpayers,” Hess read.

Hess remarked that the revenue from the proposed sale has yet to be appropriated.

A final sale contract could be quite a way off.

County solicitors will review the proposal, negotiate any changes, and then present a final contract to commissioners, Datte said.

“The board approved the proposal, and we will be presenting an agreement of sale to the board, and the board takes action at that time,” Datte said. “We don’t have a signed agreement at this time.”