DP News

March 18, 2010

Boat launch ownership aired

Hanson’s Amusement Park’s new owner says public boat launch property is his.

EILEEN GODIN Times Leader Correspondent

HARVEYS LAKE – Preservation of a public-access boat launch caused many residents to voice their frustration during Tuesday night’s borough council meeting.

The ownership of a small 70-by-20-foot access road leading into the lake is being debated.

Ken Williams, new owner of Hanson’s Amusement Park, says he owns it and plans to build a community center for the proposed Villas at Waterwood townhouse development.

Local residents challenge that, saying ownership lies with the state. They are actively fighting to retain the last public access boat launch at the lake.

Resident Sandra Serhan said she has a map, dated 1903, showing Bowman’s Creek Road, now called Noxen Road, leading right down to the water. Resident Dora A. Abod came armed with a map provided to her from the state Fish Commission stating the access road is owned by the commission.

Borough Attorney Charles McCormick said he did a title search going back to the late 1800s and cannot establish ownership of the boat launch.

Mayor Clarence Hogan said he asked Williams about leaving the parcel open for public use. Williams’ response was no, citing concerns about insurance.

When residents asked McCormick about condemnation of the property, he replied that condemnation means the borough would pay a determined market value of the land through the eminent domain process.

“This could be extremely expensive,” he said.

Resident Dick Burnett said he had lived in the borough for 62 years and the boat launch at the end of Noxen Road was always there.

“It was originally used for ice harvesting and fire trucks to fill up. Then it was used for boats in trouble,” he said.

“I have towed sinking boats to that boat launch and have been towed myself there,” he said.

He pleaded with council to consider the safety issues before allowing the boat launch to be taken away like so many others due to “greed and big egos.”

Council maintained the position that it cannot assist the residents after stating no official right-of-way was documented in previous titles.

In other business, after coming under fire for switching the borough’s insurance carrier in January, Council Chairman Francis Kopko said the borough will see a savings of $12,814 with Thomas Insurance Group Inc. of Philadelphia. The previous carrier, Walters Associates Inc., Forty Fort, quoted $61,325 for 2010.

Kopko said the borough paid $55,984 in 2009 and $51,243 in 2008 with Walters Associates Inc.

The next borough meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. April 20 in the municipal building.

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