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Archery club seeks to buy property for safety buffer

TYRONE — An archery club wants to buy a borough-owned tract on Decker Hollow Road next to the club’s facility so the ground can continue to serve as a safety buffer in case of errant arrows.

The Chief Logan Archers, however, received no favorable treatment at a Borough Council meeting this week, as officials declined to explain the details of the upcoming municipal advertisement and bidding procedures to club representatives or concede that the borough property necessarily has access deficiencies that would presumably justify a reduced price.

Sarah Wilson, her mother Renee, or some other club representatives will need to research the borough land sale provisions in state law, if they want to get a better handle on the matter, solicitor Dan Stants told them, explaining that he can’t give them legal advice.

The club is concerned about being able to arrange for a loan in time to bid for the property, according to Sarah Wilson.

The borough is awaiting final word from a surveyor it has hired to evaluate the property before advertising the ground for sale, said Borough Manager Ardean Latchford.

That surveyor is meeting with the Wilsons this week, Sarah told council.

Based on her familiarity with the property, and a survey “corner” she is aware of, the borough property lacks frontage and access to the road, Sarah Wilson indicated.

It would be illegal for the ground to be “landlocked,” so an easement must exist, Stants said.

Moreover, given various overlaps and inaccuracies with surveys in the area, it’s not at all clear that the ground lacks road frontage, Stants said.

If the land is sold, it could make it difficult for the club to continue operating its range the way it does currently, the Wilsons said.

The land for the club was donated by her great-grandfather, Sarah Wilson said.

Latchford said he feels bad for the Wilsons’ predicament.

The 36.5 acres is of no use to the borough, Latchford said.

It reportedly was once the site of a reservoir, he said.

Last month, council authorized staff to advertise for bids for another unused tract — the Van Scoyoc property.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.

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