Firehall neighbors bothered by noise

Residents who live near the Bergholz Volunteer Fire Department came to the Wheatfield Town Board meeting Sept. 16 to once again ask that something be done about the noise of the siren that alerts fire company members to come to the hall.

The residents have been questioning whether the siren is needed, since the volunteers each have personal monitors and pagers to alert them if there is a call. Residents also want to know if the loudness has been measured to see if it is harmful to hearing and if the two-minute cycle of the siren can be shortened.

"They're willing to work with us on it," said Deputy Supervisor Kenneth Retzlaff, who was filling in for Supervisor Robert Cliffe at the meeting.

Board members are concerned that turning the siren off might affect insurance rates.

Residents said the regular 6 p.m. alarm has been recently eliminated and it is not activated during the night, but the siren still goes off four, five and six times during the day for calls.

"It definitely affects quality of life. It rattles things inside my home and wakes the baby," said one woman who lives about a block and a half away from the hall. It also wakes her husband, who works nights and sleeps during the day. "It angers me every time it goes off."

In other matters:

• Councilman Art Gerbec said the committee planning the new veterans park is still looking for more members to help make plans for the park and seek grant funds.
• The board adopted the resolution already passed by the Niagara County Legislature regarding efforts to encourage stronger action by the federal government to stop the invasion of Asian carp in the Great Lakes.
• The board's next meeting will be Monday, Sept. 27, with a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. on a town code amendment and the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m.