For the first time in more than 50 years, the village of North Lewisburg is working to put a noise ordinance on its books.
At Tuesday night’s village council meeting, Police Chief Scott Bodey introduced a preliminary version of the ordinance, comprised of regulations not enforced in the North Lewisburg since 1970, according to Mayor Cheryl Hollingsworth.
“No person shall make, cause, suffer, allow or permit to be made within the Village of North Lewisburg, Champaign County, Ohio any unreasonably loud, disturbing, and unnecessary noise or noises of such character, intensity or duration as to be detrimental to the life, health and right to peace and enjoyment to any individual,” the preliminary ordinance reads.
Examples of such noises include:
•The sound of any horn, bell, signal or warning device on any motor vehicle except as a danger or warning signal, excluding police, fire and public safety vehicles.
•Music, television, audio system or musical instruments that disturb the peace of neighboring residents or that is audible within 150 feet of its source.
•Unnecessary noise created by a person or vehicle within 150 feet of an occupied residence, institution of the sick or aged, school, court or structure of public worship.
•Loud noises created by a means of employment outside of the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
•Compression braking or “jake braking.”
Exempted from the ordinance would be police, fire and village personnel during the course of their duties, construction or demolition requiring emergency attention, sporting or fundraising events held for public viewing and holiday functions requiring nighttime participation.
Violations of the ordinance would draw a $100 fine on first offense and a $300 fine for each additional occurrence within 12 months.
Several questions were brought up by council members and village officials, including how the ordinance impacts trash trucks handling dumpsters and residents who might mow or blow snow outside of the posted hours.
Hollingsworth said the village had considered separate summer and winter hours for the ordinance to accommodate the use of available daylight.
Council member John Collier noted that the goal is to deal with legitimate disruptive noises and police officers maintain discretion on when to issue citations. Village Administrator Andy Yoder agreed that officers will need to use some judgment in application of the ordinance.
“What offends or bothers one person, may not be a big deal to someone else,” he said.
Yoder added that he appreciated that the ordinance did not rely on decibel level regulations which would require the department to buy and calibrate sound measuring devices.
The chief said the ordinances were crafted to deal with specific complaints that the department has fielded, such as squealing car tires in the early morning hours. He said such issues aren’t widespread, but do surface a handful of times each month.
Bodey asked council and village officials to read the ordinance and inform him of any additional suggestions.
Council also learned that the village’s new police cruiser, ordered about 10 months ago, will be picked up today. Bodey said the cruiser will be taken to Bucyrus where it will be readied for service.
Council approved the transfer of $25,000 into the motor vehicle fund, which currently contains $20,000, to cover the cost of the cruiser.
In other business, council:
•Set the village Christmas Parade for Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.
•Learned that leaf pickup will continue through Nov. 26, weather permitting. Residents are to move leaf piles to the edge of the street, rather than alleys, and avoid placing them around mailboxes. The piles should be free of sticks, rocks and other debris.
•Approved the annual purchase of Christmas hams for members of village committees.
•Decided not to hold the annual community Christmas dinner following the December council meeting due to lingering COVID-19 concerns.