Lower Towamensing Township hopes to have its recreational facility fully operable by the end of the year.

Supervisors Chairman Ron Walbert informed the township's board of supervisors on Tuesday of the township Recreation Committee's intentions for the Stoney Ridge

P.A.R.C. along Fireline Road."I'd like to thank all the volunteers," Walbert said. "Some of the work will be put out to bid."Walbert said projects such as grading and an erosion and sedimentation plan would be among those put out to bid."We're not going to spend a lot of money on it," he said. "We'd like to have it done by the end of the year."In July, the township received $85,000 to install basketball courts at the facility. The grant came from the Department of Conservation and Economic Development, and was secured through the office of state Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) and former state Rep./Speaker of the House Keith McCall.The township held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park in June, 2009. The township purchased the land from the Knights of Columbus in 2000.Also on Tuesday, Walbert said that the township hopes to put to rest a long-standing noise dispute in the township.Walbert said the township has purchased a sound meter, and is in the process of trying to get the computer program associated with it up and running.Last month, supervisors agreed to spend up to $300 to buy the meter after residents Dwight Moyer and Jeff Mizgerd raised a concern about the noise level generated by Great American Pellets, located at 2115 Little Gap Road.Walbert said Moyer and Mizgerd have kept a log, as have Great American Pellets."They've (Great American Pellets) been very, very cooperative," he said. "They have said they will continue to give us a monthly report."Moyer and Mizgerd have said they don't have a problem with the business itself; but, rather, the level of noise generated by the operation.In June, Stephen Ross, representing Great American Pellets, shared the results of an unofficial sound study he had performed to measure decibel levels claimed to come from the business.That came after Moyer and Mizgerd told supervisors the noise levels that arise from the business have become unbearable.At that time, Ross said he did the study as a courtesy to the township, and made no guarantee on the results as he is not certified, trained, nor proficient in the field. The instrument used for the study was a Universal Enterprises, Inc., Digital Sound Meter, he said.As per the township zoning ordinance, Ross said that from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., a maximum of 85 decibels is allowed, and that from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., a maximum of 75 decibels is allowed.Based on his study, Ross said 77 was the highest decibel reading he was able to come up with.But, Moyer and Mizgerd questioned the accuracy of those results.In other business, supervisors:• Approved the narrowband agreement with Carbon County.• Granted preliminary approval to the Kenneth George Sunset Terrace plan.• Approved, on a 2-1 vote, with Walbert opposed, the AFLAC payroll deduction.• Agreed to spend $60 to purchase an air needle scaler.• Appointed Supervisor Brent Green to serve as the township's voting delegate at the PSATS Convention.• Appointed Green and township secretary Christine Wentz to serve on a committee to open bids for review before board of supervisor meetings.• Authorized Wentz to advertise for various road material bids.• Authorized Wentz to advertise for diesel fuel and gasoline for 2012.