DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“No,” said Muncy Township Supervisor Terri Lauchle to Lycoming County President Judge Eric R. Linhardt.

With that one word softly-delivered answer to Linhardt’s final question in court Thursday – whether Lauchle would sign a lot consolidation plan for a Bass Pro Shops, approved by the previous board of supervisors, Linhardt then issued a sentence of six months incarceration and added 30 days upon her release Lauchle must pay $7,000, or the $500-per-day fine which accrued as she remained in contempt of court.

Lauchle wept as she was swiftly placed in handcuffs inside the packed court room and then escorted to the waiting vehicle at the rear of the courthouse to be taken to the county prison.

In his last ruling, the judge had found her in contempt and ordered her to pay a $500-a-day fine, which she had made no effort to pay. Supervisor Denise Artley, vice chair, signed the document, claiming she could not afford that penalty.

In the court, sitting beside Lauchle was Kathryn Harper, part-time township secretary/treasurer, Lauchle acted as if she didn’t understand that she was supposed to pay that, saying that the township’s former solicitor had somehow told her she didn’t need to pay.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The judge sternly delivered his instructions and did not seem to be buying that argument and said that he wasn’t “interested in collecting your fine. I’m interested in collecting your signature.”

Earlier this week Lauchle had filed in the Court of Common Pleas stating that her signature was not necessary on the submitted plans from FAMvest, the State College developer trying to bring the Bass Pro Shops to fruition.

The judge pointed out that there was a line for the chair, Lauchle, to sign and one for the vice-chair, Artley, to sign on the plans.

Linhardt asked her, “Are you prepared to go to jail and not sign this?”

Lauchle said her concern has always been ensuring the process and that she was elected to do that and to perform her duties.

The judge explained thoroughly that by signing she was not saying that she agreed with what the previous board had approved, but that she was just acknowledging that they had approved the lot consolidation plan. Her signature was not a “seal of approval.”

He also told her that the time to appeal the previous board’s decision had passed because it had to have been made within 30 days saying that time has “long come and gone.”

He also told her that if the appellate court disagreed with his ruling and said that she was right, then the order would be removed.

She argued that approval had been with conditions and the judge told her those conditions had been met.

“It’s a shame,” Supervisor Heath Ohnmeiss, a hold over who is in favor of the Bass Pro and other redevelopment of the former Lycoming Mall site and outparcels, said.

Ohnmeiss said the next order of business will be for the township to hold a public meeting to reorganize.

“Understand, I, myself, I am trying to help work for the community,” Ohnmeiss said.

He noted how it was crucial to see such redevelopment and bolster the township tax base.

In attendance were FAMvest attorneys Nicholas Pennington and Ambrose Heinz from the firm Stevens & Lee, who have been striving in court to obtain the signature and move the process along.