A look at some interesting questions posed to the Codes office

On the lighter side

A few years ago, this article deviated from the world of local or state codes and their enforcement to some of the typical problems related to them.

As things always seem a little quieter this time of year, this will be another attempt to put a smile on someone’s face.

Yes, these things do happen. These questions or comments were received, at one time or another, in one of the town’s businesses or offices.

Surely, if you asked around in some of the stores or restaurants in town, there is no doubt they would have some more good ones too.

Questions or Comments:

When is Christmas in Old Forge? (Excuse me?)

Who feeds all the deer? (Mother Nature)

Why does the town let the deer out on busy weekends? (no good answer to be had)

Why can’t the deer cross at the cross walks? (Do you think they can read?)

When do the deer turn into moose? (One of my favorites)

Is there a waiting list to use a house in Old Forge? (Excuse me?) This is a State Park, right? (Well, yes.) So the state owns the houses and rents them, how do you get on the list to rent one? (People own them, people live here.) No they don’t, this is a state park, and you can’t live in a state park. (Serious?)

Why is there a code enforcement office if nothing can be built? (Things are built all the time.)

Why is there a town government when the Adirondack Park Agency controls everything? (They don’t control everything.)

Why are there cars on the “blue trail?” (Because we call it South Shore Road)

How come the state built a school right on the snowmobile trail? (The school was built many years before the snowmobile was around.)

What is the best way to pet a bear? (When it’s dead)

Why does the town put sand on the roads? (Uh, because they are roads)

What is the town going to do with all the extra tax money generated by the higher assessments? (It doesn’t work that way.)

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Rest assured, people do live here and own their homes, have businesses, employ people, take their kids to school, and pay taxes just like everyone else in the country.

However, the area is certainly unique, but that is part of what lures us here.

The Adirondack Park Agency may seem like the big gorilla in the room, but the town has equal or even more authority in many areas.

It is too easy to poke fun at those who ask these questions. If they really just don’t know, they don’t.

But before you go running up to a bear or pet him, or try to teach your kids the “right” way to feed a bear, you may want to talk to one of the local EnCon Officers or Rangers.

They will probably tell you it’s not a good idea.