The Village of Cobleskill is taking steps to welcome some of its newest residents:
Amish families.
Concerned that when the Amish visit the Municipal Offices on Mineral Springs Road there's no safe place for them to tie up their horses and buggies, Mayor Linda Holmes and trustees are discussing putting in something like a hitching post there.
Now, horses and buggies are often tied up to a Stop sign on the edge of Mineral Springs Road or to a telephone pole across the street-spots Mayor Holmes said aren't safe.
Codes Enforcement Officer Mike Piccolo said there's room to set up something on the green space at the rear of the parking lot.
The Save-A-Lot store in the center of the village already has a spot for horses.
Mr. Piccolo said he sees Amish residents at the offices about once a month.
Upstairs, Town Clerk Tina Ward said that's been her experience too.
So far, she said, though there are Amish families farming around the edge of the town, only one family lives in Cobleskill, on Hill Road.
Typically, Ms. Ward said, Amish residents would need to visit her office for the same reasons others do: To record births and deaths, for dog licenses, building permits, and even marriage licenses.
Most stop by, though, for the same reason everyone else does this time of year, she said:
Hunting licenses.