Wallace passes noise ordinance

WALLACE –– The Wallace City Council passed a noise ordinance during their monthly meeting last week.  

The new ordinance was a revised version after the original draft ordinance had been heavily scrutinized by locals, concerned by how it could potentially impact businesses in Wallace’s commercial district.  

The revised ordinance, which passed by a 5-1 vote, contained several amendments that made it much friendlier to the commercial district.  

Within the ordinance, noise is defined as any unwanted sound – including noise disturbances which they state are, “Any sound or vibration which: May disturb or annoy reasonable persons of normal sensitivities; or Causes or tends to cause, an adverse effect on the public health and welfare.”   

These sounds cannot exceed 84 decibels when measured at either the property line of the complaining party or 100 feet from the origin of the sound – whichever is further.  

This includes plainly audible sounds (understandable speech, repetitive bass, or music), sound reproduction devices (stereos, radios, instruments, televisions, or other amplification devices), vehicle horns or signaling devices, construction activities, animals, car mufflers, and compression brakes. 

These rules will be in effect from 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:59 p.m. – 7 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.  

A key addition to the ordinance was the exemption of certain districts within the city, including the city’s light manufacturing, commercial, and business districts, which is where the key sticking point was for many opponents of the ordinance.  

Under the new amendment, these districts may produce noise above the previously noted decibel levels if the noise is considered “usual and customary to the type or manner of business engaged in.”  

Under the new rules, the businesses in these special districts can operate in their standard fashion between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.  

The city also amended the penalties for violating the new ordinance. Previously, first-time violators would be fined $300, and any subsequent violation would be treated as a misdemeanor, up to $1,000 in fines, or potentially six months in county jail (or a combination of both).  

Under the amended ordinance, people will now receive a warning that they are in violation of the ordinance. If they fail to comply with that warning within a calendar year of receiving it the previously stated penalties will be applied.  

The city included a few other exemptions to the ordinance, among them being snow removal, alarm systems, deliveries to commercial businesses, and noises stemming from holiday celebrations on January 1, July 4, and December 24, 25, and 31.