SMITHVILLE – A proposed ordinance intended to protect the Town of Smithville’s roadways from damage caused by heavy natural gas drilling rigs and water tanker trucks has raised the ire of loggers whose trucks could exceed the limitation.

A handful of gas wells have been permitted and or drilled in Smithville and nearby Tyner over the past several months, prompting the town to follow the lead of other municipalities in Chenango County that are all trying to keep a step ahead of the gas rush. They turned to an ordinance already in place in the Town of German.

“I cannot point to any specific damage that we have had. We’re trying to look into the future and avoid those problems,” Smithville Supervisor Allan L. Johnson said.

A logging contractor commented at a public hearing about the proposed limitations in October, according to Johnson, asking why his industry was being targeted and pointing to milk haulers that could also exceed the limit.

“We heard his concerns and could choose to make some changes,” Johnson said last week.