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Committee Veteran Van Horn Elected Knowlton Mayor

January 17, 2023

The gavel returned to a familiar hand when Frank Van Horn was elected mayor by the Knowlton Township Committee at its Jan. 3 reorganization meeting.

Van Horn, who has served on the Township Committee for almost four decades, has served as mayor for numerous terms during that time. He said that in his new term he would like to share his experience with upcoming generations of Knowlton residents.

“I really think it’s time to spread around responsibilities and get more young people involved in our government,” Van Horn said.

While governance in a lightly populated township like Knowlton may not require the resources of a bigger town, good stewardship of the community is just as important.

“We need to get people to feel invested in the community,” he said.

Also sworn in at the reorganization meeting was Michael Bates, who is beginning his first term on the Township Committee. A longtime member of the Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Squad No. 1, he has served as chief and captain of the department.

One of the concerns Bates plans to address is the increasing truck traffic, particularly on Route 46, and massive warehouses and distribution centers taking root in nearby towns.

“Knowlton has long been an important geographical location in transportation,” Bates said. “Now trucking is a big piece of life living in Knowlton, and it does raise legitimate concerns to the safety of our residents. I don’t like increasing truck traffic, especially past the school.”

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.