Noise ordinance causes commotion at Town Hall

Discussion of the noise ordinance resulted in heated discussion at the Saratoga Town Council meeting on Oct. 21.

Ordinance 9.20.050 reads “no person shall between the hours of ten [10] p.m. and seven [7] a.m. maliciously or wilfully disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or family within the town limits by loud or unusual noises or by tumultuous or offensive carriage, threatening, quarreling, challenging to fight or fighting.”

Todd Hughes, who was issued a citation for breaking the ordinance in September after residents reported loud music coming from his business, brought in a decibel reader to the council chambers as an example of how loud the decibel were in town hall. Hughes said the decibel rating from the conversations in the council chambers was at 94. Many residents questioned the accuracy of Hughes’s decibel reader, as a level 90 db rating is the equivalent of a Orchestral Crescendo.

Hughes argues the noise ordinance prohibits him from conducting his woodworking business.

Resident Glee Johnson said the ordinance was passed in 2011 to deal with concerts in Saratoga. Zeiger said he was aware of when and why it was passed, and took Johnson’s comments into consideration.

The main concern with the noise ordinance is, under the current ordinance, Saratoga Forest Management would not be able to run an overnight shift. Managing Partner of Saratoga Forest Management Gary Ervin was not available for a comment on the noise ordinance. Partner Clint Georg said he did not have sufficient knowledge on the subject to comment.

Councilman Wilcoxson has been spearheading the effort to alter the ordinance, saying it would likely increase the industries and promote jobs in Saratoga.

In a separate interview, mayor John Zeiger said the noise ordinance is not going to be an overnight fix.

“It’s going to be one of those that is going to take some time to study,” Zeiger said. “I still maintain there is a difference between machinery and loud music.”

He said it is unlikely the ordinance will be changed between now and the end of the year.