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Council Clarifies County Does Not Own Parcel Proposed for Coyote Hunt; Game Commission Advised Against Approval
Summary
A request to permit a coyote hunt on land believed to be county property prompted public comment; council members and staff clarified the county does not own the land and said the Pennsylvania Game Commission advised the county not to grant permission.
A member of the public raised concerns about a planned coyote hunt on property he believed the county owned. Council and staff investigated during the work session and clarified that Luzerne County does not own the parcel in question.
Councilmember Sabatino said the land in question is owned largely by the Hazleton City Authority and by the developer of the data center parcels; the county therefore cannot grant hunting permission for that acreage. Sabatino also reported that he had spoken with a representative of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which asked the county not to give permission for the hunt because the commission believes the coyote population in Pennsylvania is declining.
Attorney Skeen said the hunting organizer may have been told by the Department of Environmental Protection that county property was available, which appears to have caused the confusion; staff confirmed ownership as not county property.
Ending: Council took no formal action; the matter was closed as an ownership clarification. Staff and the county's legal office indicated they would not grant permission for the hunt because the county does not own the land and because the Game Commission advised against involvement.
