In a quick reversal from a decision made just last month, Tyrone Borough has decided to relax recently placed restrictions on motor vehicles in the watershed area.
Last month, the borough decided to post roads in the area as not open to motorized vehicles. The decision was prompted by problems with vehicles becoming stuck on the backside of the watershed. A representative of the Pennsylvania Game Commission offered extensive commentary at a council meeting in November. The borough then authorized the Game Commission to post warning signs and eventually install a gate in the area to prevent vehicles from accessing it.
The location of the gate would be above the most steepest part of the AT&T line. The gate has now been obtained by the borough, but according to Water Department manager Gary Barr, it will not be installed until after the weather breaks again next year.
At a council meeting last week, members of the Allegheny Gun Club and other sportsmen were present to voice their concerns about the new restrictions.
“The area we where concerned about is the tollgate road off Janesville Pike, going north to the AT&T line, said Dan Patterson, president of the Allegheny Gun Club. “We share a common property line running about 3,800 feet with the borough.
“At the end of our property line we have a gate. We have a road across our property in excess of a mile. In order to access our road we wanted access to the borough road.”
The access is necessary once or twice a year for maintenance purposes. For the purpose of clarity, the gate mentioned by Patterson is not the one due to be installed next year that was described earlier in this article. That location is at the point in the watershed area where the vehicles had become stuck and eventually led to the additional restrictions authorized by the borough.
The club also expressed concern over the use of the now restricted road by hunters. With the recent start of deer season, some hunters were surprised to learn of the new restrictions. They no longer had access to areas where they had hunted for years.
A hunter present at the council meeting, but not directly associated with the club also complained about the restrictions. He expressed hunters had not caused the previous problems and indicated he would be willing to take responsibility if his vehicle became stuck in that area. He also felt others would do the same.
The concerns of the gun club and hunters was explained to the Game Commission after it had posted the restrictions following the end of bear season according to Barr. The Game Commission then became concerned about control issues if it was decided to let the gun club have access but still bar hunters and others from the area. Instead, it was recommended the area be open to motorized vehicles during certain hunting periods.
The borough had their own concerns including recent rains last month which made the steep part of the road now in even worse condition than when council first took action in November. Barr believes some people traveling the road will get stuck and require assistance. According to Barr the roads weren’t in good shape even before the rain. He pointed out there had been no major maintenance efforts in the area since timbering operations in 1994. Barr went as far to say the borough has even had trouble with vehicles in the area located about two and half miles from route 453. He described it as “where the road drops down,” it’s steep in that area then levels off again.
Solicitor Larry Clapper expressed concerns about liability issues to the borough for those who would enter the gun club property. He even went as far to suggest the club should list the borough as an additional insured on their policy. Patterson indicated the club would be willing to look at the liability issue, but also noted hunters and sportsmen using the road aren’t required to carry liability insurance.
Council took no official vote on the issue. Eventually, Mayor Patricia Stoner (with council’s implied agreement) advised Barr to contact the Game Commission and follow its recommendations. Essentially, the borough requested the Game Commission to remove signage they had just posted for the remainder of the current dear season and other major hunting periods. The signage was removed Dec. 2, according to Barr.
The borough and the club also agreed to make arrangements to allow the club access to its own road by making available a key to the gate allowing club officials the ability to enter the area located several miles from the radar tower off of Route 453.
Those wanting a further explanation of the areas involved, restrictions, hunting period exceptions and any other clarification relating to the watershed area should contact the Pennsylvania State Game Commission or the Tyrone Borough Water Department.
