A new ordinance for the City of Jefferson drew lots of concern from residents at the City Council meeting earlier this week.
The noise control ordinance outlines how noise is defined, sounds that will not be permitted, including maximum allowed decibel levels for a 24-hour period, vehicle noise limits, exceptions to the ordinance, how noises will be measured, permits that can be issued and penalties for someone found not adhering to the ordinance. City Administrator Mike Palmer emphasizes the ordinance is meant to be a tool for law enforcement because currently they don’t have anything to enforce noise complaints.
Palmer says most of the concerns raised by residents at the June 9th meeting was about children playing and yelling outside, riding motorcycles or having parties at homes. He points out that this ordinance isn’t intended to keep people from doing normal activities, but for those instances where neighbors complain or someone who is blatantly being too loud.
“Look mainly for police officers to, if it’s a little loud, they can observe that by complaint. And then maybe nicely go over – like they normally would do – to someone who is being a little loud and just ask them to quiet it down a little bit. Again it comes back to that common sense. I totally trust the police officers that they would do the right thing.”
Palmer adds, the first reading of the new ordinance was tabled at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting and will be brought back to the police committee to make additional adjustments. He says the proposed ordinance will be on the City’s website before the first reading by the Council will take place. Click the link below to view the initial proposed ordinance.