The Washington City Council held a public hearing last night and heard several comments about the City’s proposed noise ordinance.
Adam Sidebottom expressed concern that the ordinance as proposed would affect outdoor worship services. He complained that this past Sunday’s outdoor service at his church was rudely interrupted.
Local businesswoman Cheryl Chatting, along with County Commissioner Michael Taylor and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Joe Morris, expressed concern that a rigid noise ordinance would have a negative impact on current downtown quality of life projects and the events they would bring to the community. Several members of the business and agricultural community also voiced concern about the negative impact a rigid code with a low decibel level could have.
Several other residents voiced concern about loud music from vehicles, bars in the downtown area, and loud church services.
Altogether, about fifteen people voiced their opinions on the noise ordinance.
Chief of Police, Derrick Devine, told the Council he feared that using an indoor measuring point for noise could create a situation where a false call could be used to ambush an officer. After hearing all the comments, the Council instructed the City Attorney to set a maximum noise level of 80 decibels, to be measured at the closest point possible to the point of complaint without entering the complainant’s residence.
The proposed ordinance covers the hours between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am and will be voted on at the next Council meeting.
