Will the second time be the charm with selling the former Packerton Yards site?

On Thursday, the Carbon County Commissioners voted 2-0 to authorize the advertisement of the sale of the 71.54-acre property, which straddles Lehighton and Mahoning Township. The minimum bid price is $300,000. Commissioner William O'Gurek abstained from the vote because of his employment with the Times News.The commissioners tried to sell the property in September, with bids being opened Oct. 2, but only one bid was submitted by the deadline and was withdrawn before it could be opened.At the time, they discussed the issues that come with the property, including getting approval for any development project from Mahoning Township supervisors; as well as environmental safety requirements that the commissioners placed on the property.In other matters, Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard reported that the county-owned firing range is almost complete. The range is located behind the county prison and dog shelter on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning.The project cost approximately $2,040 $1,000 for modified materials; approximately 200 gallons of fuel that was used by Stempa Excavating; and $500 for lumber to construct the backstops.Gerhard said that volunteers for the project saved the county approximately $13,000."I think we're trendsetters for the rest of the county," he said, noting that he thinks Carbon is one of the first counties in the state to have its own firing range.He thanked Bob Stempa from Stempa Excavating for doing the excavation work; Packer Township for donating the use of a chipper when the trees were getting cleared; Charles Neff, the prison maintenance supervisor; prison Sgts. Ed Herring, Harley Gessat and Juan Escalante, as well as Gessat's father; and correctional officer Tyler Knecht for their work at the site.He also recognized the 10 work release inmates who also helped with the project.Once completed, the range will be used a few weeks a year for certification purposes by the Carbon County Adult Probation office; Sheriff's department; Correctional officers and Nesquehoning Police Department.