Roaring Spring Council President Addresses 'Misinformation' About Mountain Ground

The new policy regarding Plum Creek Mountain continues to draw protests from some people, prompting Roaring Spring Borough Council President Rodney Green to open the Dec. 13 council meeting addressing what he said is misinformation regarding the land.

Green said some of the comments made at last month’s meeting regarding the mountain ground were not factual.

“I do think we need to reply to some of those comments,” Green said.

Green said he has heard comments that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is functioning as a private police force to manage the mountain ground. An assertion, he said, that is just not true.

“We have been in a co-op with the game commission for a number of years,” Green said. “We have renewed that with them. I want to make it very clear that they are not functioning as a private police force, they are functioning as the game commission like they always have there.”

Green said the game commission’s responsibilities are to enforce hunting regulations, report incidents of trespass or use of unauthorized motor vehicles.

“They report to the proper legal authorities,” Green said. “They only enforce the rules and regulations they are authorized to enforce. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Green also addressed the issue of liability in response to recent comments that the borough has used it as an excuse to close the ground for public use.

“All I can say to the public is that we have thoroughly vetted the liability issue,” he said. “It is a real issue. Our solicitor has provided sound and prudent advice on this matter and not matter what people want to believe, there is no such thing as blanket coverage. We are simply reducing our liability exposure to protect the long-term financial interests of Roaring Spring residents.”

Green also wanted to set the record straight on whether the mountain ground was originally donated for public use. Green said some of the mountain ground was deeded to the borough but that some of it was purchased.

Green said there was never any stipulation on how the ground should be used.

“For people to say this was given with specifications is just not true,” he said.

Green also addressed concerns that the mountain ground could be a water source for the borough. Green made clear that it was his opinion, and not that of councils, that it would be too costly to use the mountain as a water source.

“It’s fantasy to think it would be a good idea,” he said. “It would cost tens of millions of dollars to create a water system that would meet all the regulations and would provide safe, potable water to be distributed to a borough that has less than 2,500 residents. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Green said the borough’s water authority has contingencies for other water sources should the need arise.

Green also addressed concerns that closing the mountain ground is taking away recreational opportunities for children who live in the borough.

Green said that with a recreational budget of around $18,000, the borough has been generous in providing recreational opportunities for its children.

“We offer swimming lessons, we offer youth membership at the YMCA, we pay for program fees, we have family swim nights and summer activities at the library,” he said. “In addition, we work very closely with Spring Cove Little League baseball. So, for us to be chastised for not providing enough recreation is just falling on deaf ears.”

Lastly, Green addressed the people who are calling on the mountain ground policy to be a referendum on the ballot, allowing the citizens to decide how it’s used.

Green said per the borough code, that cannot be done. Green said the decision on the ground was made by elected officials.

“We just can’t have a referendum on some issue because a few disgruntled people want us to,” he said.

Green acknowledged that some issues require a referendum such as the recent one on allowing alcohol sales in the borough. Green said that was a requirement of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Green said council’s job is to look after the whole of the borough as fiscally responsible as possible.

“I think we made it clear that we have a duty to manage the borough resources that need be given to all the borough and its residents,” he said.