SILVER CREEK — The month of September was yet another busy month for the Village of Silver Creek Fire Department and Emergency Squad.

September featured 49 total calls in the month in Silver Creek, including 37 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) calls. It was the sixth month of the year 2023 in which the Fire Department had 45 calls or more, and the number of total calls has surpassed the number of days in the month in every month of the year so far.

No fewer than 24 EMS calls have been responded to in any month this year, and a total of 27 motor vehicle accident calls have been responded to in 2023, along with 13 structure fires.

While the Fire Department vehicles are frequently departing from the Village Municipal Building, vehicles on the other side of the wall of the garage were a topic of discussion at a recent Village Board meeting.

Mayor Jeff Hornburg has been looking to address the village’s issues with the electric vehicle charging station located on the exterior wall of the Fire Hall garage. The Village Board is frustrated by electric vehicle owners leaving their vehicles unattended to charge for extended periods of time, despite a sign clearly stating leaving vehicles unattended is prohibited.

“We’re getting some pretty good traffic there, and I don’t mind the traffic at all. I mind the fact that they leave the vehicles when the sign clearly states you’re not supposed to,” Hornburg said.

Hornburg noted he understands that the “old style chargers” the village has take long periods of time to charge the vehicles, but owners leaving the vehicles unattended has led to frustration. Hornburg has

Hornburg has scheduled appointments with multiple companies, along with a representative from NYSEG, to evaluate the options for the village.

“I think there’s a need for it, I don’t mind them being there, but we just have to figure out a different way to get it done,” said Hornburg.

Hornburg also noted he has discussed the village’s short-term rental property law with Village Attorney Peter Clark. With laws recently passed in Arkwright, Cassadaga, and the town of Dunkirk regarding short-term rental properties, Clark is evaluating the village’s ability to address such properties.

The village is also in contact with Josh Freifeld, Executive Director of Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation (CHRIC), regarding a grant for home rehabilitation in the village. Freifeld told Hornburg that he believes CHRIC can make improvements to seven homes in the village.

Also of note in the village, the next mobile food pantry event is today, beginning at 11 a.m., at the Village Municipal Building parking lot. The event is sponsored by the Silver Creek Food Pantry, FeedMore of WNY, and the Village of Silver Creek.

The Silver Creek PTSA is sponsoring a Track-or-Treat event on Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., at the newly renovated Silver Creek Central School athletic track. Guests will walk around the track in their costumes to receive candy. The PTSA is seeking businesses and families to help set up and decorate stations for children to receive candy, as well as volunteers to hand out candy at the event. Donations of candy are also encouraged. Contact the PTSA to assist.