Noise ordinance passes on its first reading

Mayor suggests ordinance regulating use of firearms within city

— City council members passed the first reading of a noise ordinance at the July 19 meeting.

The ordinance would outlaw unreasonably loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises within the city, including jake brakes.

Currently, there is no noise ordinance in place, according to Mayor Charles Linam.

The proposed ordinance excludes noises made by “city facilities engaging in necessary publicbusiness,” warning signals given by police cars, fire trucks or ambulance operators and the “reasonable use of amplifiers or loudspeakers in the course of public addresses which are noncommercial in character.”

The ordinance cited several examples of noises that would be considered unnecessary and disturbing, including the honking of a vehicle horn when not used as a danger signal or when sounded for an unnecessary or unreasonable period of time, the playing of loud music between midnight and 7 a.m., as well as yelling,shouting, hooting, whistling or singing, along with unnecessary screeching of tires, or noise-making devices on public streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The maintenance and operation of an outdoor public address system was also included in the list of unnecessary noises, but an option to apply for a permit from the police chief under certain conditions was included.

The ordinance will undergo a second reading at the August 13 city council meeting and a final reading at the September meeting.

In other business, Linam proposed the creation of a firearms ordinance to the council. Currently the city does not have any ordinances regulating the use of firearms, he said.

Linam suggested an ordinance that would prohibit the use of firearms within the city limits with a few exceptions.

Residents would be able to use firearms to hunt on their own property if they had more than five acres and any citizen would be able to use firearms against nuisance animals on their property under the suggested ordinance, Linam said.

Community, Pages 7 on 07/25/2012