Townsend City Council To Establish Noise Ordinance
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
A city noise ordinance is in the works. The first draft of a plan, developed by City Attorney Peter Simon, came before City Council Members at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 6. According to Simon, the ordinance will cover specific rules about the use of loud speakers, boom boxes and heavy construction equipment at any time of the day. Quiet hours between 10 pm and 6 am will be enforced as well. There will be exemptions for emergency vehicles and athletic events.
The Council discussed penalties for breaking the ordinance up to $500 and 6 months in jail, which is the statutory penalty. It was also discussed if the city compliance officer Eric Crusch would be tasked with enforcement of the ordinance.
Attorney Simon is also working on a solicitor license ordinance. He will have those ordinances ready for the September 19 meeting.
Laura Obert, Fall Fest representative, asked the council members to finalize the request for Pine Street and B Street closure during Fall Fest beginning Friday, September 30–Sunday, October 02. Obert also requested that the council members put a business license moratorium on out-of-town businesses attempting to take advantage of the Fall Fest event. The moratorium would run from September 23–October 02. Exemptions to limited business licenses would include all local businesses and nonprofits, and events such as Crazy Days in Townsend. Council members voted to institute the moratorium.
Townsend Public Works Supervisor Tim Rauser reported on city water usage this summer in town. He reported the usage is way down and thought the reason was because more homeowners had installed sprinkler systems that take less water than individual hoses for their lawns. Council Member Angie Wintrow questioned Rauser whether the lower usage could be due to the County not using the water hydrant near their shop on Cedar St. The city had issued a bill for the water on May 06 of this year. Broadwater County Commissioners, after discussion with City Council members, decided to stop using the hydrant for county water trucks.
