KNOX—Complaints of noise from a property on Thompson’s Lake Road are motivating the town to investigate.

At a town board meeting last Tuesday, Timothy Thompson, of Thompson’s Lake Road, told the board about the sounds of motorbikes and all-terrain vehicles racing on a property adjacent to his. He showed a video on which the sounds of the machines were audible even inside his house.

Thompson also complained about the dust kicked up next door.
"I’ve got grandchildren coming up and I can’t have that because they’ve got allergies," Thompson said.

Knox Supervisor Michael Hammond said the town has received several similar complaints about the Thompson’s Lake Road property and another property on Witter Road. The town’s attorney, John Dorfman, has sent letters to the property owners informing them of the complaints, Hammond said.

Hammond referred theEnterprise’s questions to Dorfman and zoning administrator Robert Delaney. Delaney did not return theEnterprise’s calls.

Dorfman said the town’s zoning does not forbid operating ATV’s and motorbikes on private property.
"But, that aside," Dorfman said, "if it’s too loud, that’s a violation."

The town has an ordinance regulating noise on residential property.

Dorfman said the town would investigate, and, if enough evidence were found, issue a citation. The case would be heard before the town court or the New York State Supreme Court, depending on the type of violation.
"The town is responsible to enforce the zoning and we’re going to enforce our zoning," Dorfman said.

Dorfman would not comment on the specifics of the investigation, including the names of the property owners.

Other business

In other business at its Sept. 13 meeting, the Knox Town Board:

—Agreed to petition the county for a speed-limit reduction on White Road. A group of White Road residents said people are using the dead-end road for a dragstrip and a raceway.
"It’s amazing how many cars go up and down the road," said Linda Bopp. "I have seen 40 cars go by in one day."

As an unmarked road, the speed limit is currently 55 miles per hour.

Hammond said he would also ask the Albany County Sheriff’s Department to patrol White Road. He cautioned the group that it takes several months after a petition for the county to change a speed limit;

—Listened to a report from Cheryl Frantzen, president of the Knox Historical Society. After a period of very low membership, the society recently reorganized, adopted new by-laws, and welcomed several new members. The society has also started a website and a newsletter, Pillbox News, Frantzen said; Knox once manufactured pillboxes.

The society opened the Knox Museum, a 19th-century house, next to the town hall, on Memorial Day, and received between 35 and 50 visitors, Frantzen said. On Berne Heritage Days, Frantzen said, the society displayed the rediscovered World War II honor-roll plaques, which list the names of 68 war veterans from the Knox area.

Frantzen also had a list of concerns about the state of the museum, which is owned and maintained by the town. She pointed out the cracked windows, deteriorating porch posts, and peeling paint.

While Frantzen didn’t care what kind of windows were used, she said she would like the new porch posts to fit the historical character of the building. Hammond said the town would look into making the repairs;

—Scheduled a budget workshop for Sep. 26 at 7 p.m.;

—Listened to a presentation from Amy Pokorny of the Friends of the Helderbergs. Pokorny said the Friends are putting together a farm and commerce trail map and directory of the Hilltowns. The map would direct people to places of business in the Hilltowns, from farmers, to artisans, to doctors. Each participating business would put up a yellow exclamation-point sign, Pokorny said.
In addition, the Friends would create "Discover the Hilltowns!" signs for the highway entrances to the Helderbergs, Pokorny said.

The town board said it was a good idea, and appointed the planning board to oversee the erection of the highway signs.
"I think this is wonderful. I’d love to point somebody into my store," said Councilman Joseph Best, who owns Papa Joe’s Country Store in Knox;

—Passed a resolution to hold a public hearing at the next regularly-scheduled town board meeting on a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance that would require applicants for a special-use permit to inform their neighbors; and

—Discussed writing job descriptions for transfer-station employees. Highway Superintendent Gary Salisbury said that, since the town hired a third employee there, it has been unclear who has what duties.