A motocross facility in East Wareham has recently come under fire from a selectman, accusing the owner of operating as a business without the proper permits. But the owner of the facility said he has everything he needs and is willing to prove it.

Selectman Stephen Holmes said he's received noise complaints from residents about the track, and believes there is a fundamental issue with running a commercial race track on agricultural land.

"The town should be taxing that land at a different rate," he said.

He said when charging admission and having hundreds of people attend events, there are certain entertainment licenses and special permits they likely need to acquire but don't have.

"You can't just get a business certificate and open up a racetrack on a cranberry bog."

But according to Jacob Morrison, owner and operator of Wareham MX at 3042 Cranberry Highway, he has every permit he needs. He said the town building inspector came to the facility three weeks ago and after viewing the grounds told Morrison that he had everything that was required.

"We're on private land. He [Holmes] thinks we're going out on town land and charging money for it," Morrison said.

The land is owned by Bill Atwood, who ran a race track on the land for more than 20 years. Morrison now leases the track from Atwood and is partners with his son, B.C. Atwood. The facility also uses land owned by the Onset Water Department, and according to Onset Water Department Superintendent Paul Bokoski, Morrison has all the permits and insurance policies he needs.

"I don't see any problems at all," Bokoski said.

In regards to the noise created by the race track, Holmes said he received complaints from neighbors about the noise and has heard bike engines himself as early as at 8 a.m.

"We have restrictions whenever we issue a licenses, there are hours involved with noise ordinances," Holmes said.

"I've never had a complaint from a resident," Morrison said of the two years he has operated the race track. He also said he has taken decibel readings in the area, and that the adjacent Cartland and Cranberry Highway are both louder than his track. In fact, all of the ambient bike noise might not even come from his track to begin with.

According to Bokoski, there are people who ride dirt bikes from Indian Mound Beach all through the woods in East Wareham. He said he has spoken to the state environmental police and was told it's basically impossible to catch every trespassing rider.

"Back there there's not much we can do," he said.

During the winter, Morrison held a couple of events that drew hundreds of riders and spectators to the facility.

"All the businesses on the highway made out well," Bokoski said.

"It's great if he's bringing people and business into the area. I think it's good," Holmes said. "It's just a thing that needs to be done right."

Holmes said he asked Town Attorney Rich Bowen to look into the situation and report his findings at some point after Town Meeting.

"I want it done right so that everyone is happy," Holmes said.

But according to Morrison and Bokoski, it already is.