Fillmore won't set noise limit

Monday, June 6, 2011

FILLMORE -- As the Town of Fillmore continues reworking its nuisance ordinance, the new document will not contain a decibel limit on noise, according to the town council president.

President Wes Terhune said at Thursday's meeting he could not find a number that would be fair to all the people of the town. While some neighbors want a noise limit to curtail activity at a motorcycle track north of Hendricks Street, Terhune said there is no good way to do so.

"Some people want the number so low you can't ride a motorcycle. If you do that, you can't mow your yard, you can't cut a tree," Terhune said. "I don't see the sense in putting in a noise limit at this time."

He also praised track owner George Terry for his recent efforts to limit the noise on his property. Terhune said he had not heard a complaint from a citizen in several months.

"What you have been doing has been good," Terhune said. "I have not had one complaint."

Council member Alan Jones said other small towns he has researched tend to leave noise violations to a police officer's discretion.

Terhune did, however, still point out one problem Terry's track is generating.

"You have to do something with the dust," Terhune said.

Terry assured the council he is addressing the problem.

After the council announced plans in May to raise the speeding fine in town, the council looked into raising the fine for a number of violations. An ordinance will be drafted for a future meeting to raise the fines for several violations, including abandoned vehicles, animal control, health hazards and speeding.

Marshal Darrel Bunten said the police department is still looking for a way to fuel its vehicles without driving to Greencastle. Although Hoosier Pete's gas is available in Fillmore, the business does not do regular monthly billing, which the department needs for budgeting and record keeping.

Bunten contacted Midland Coop, which presented him with three options.

* The town can purchase two 300-gallon tanks (gasoline and diesel) at a cost of $1,100-$1,200. Midland will fill the tanks and take $.04 per gallon off the current price.

* The town can purchase the two tanks, plus a secure computer system that controls access to the fuel and provides key access at a cost of $4,500-$5,000. Midland will fill the tanks at the same discount as the first option.

* The town can open a credit account with Midland, which will furnish the two tanks and fill them at regular pump price. This system also provides no tracking or security.

The council did not make a motion on the matter.

Comments
View 4 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Why can't they just save the receipts and be reimbursed, or work out a deal so they can write checks to the local gas station? I don't think a monthly billing statement is necessary, anyone can add up receipts with a calculator in 5 minutes to figure out how much they spent on gas in a month.

    Don't make a simple problem difficult.

    -- Posted by anonymous101 on Mon, Jun 6, 2011, at 2:24 AM
  • On the noise issue to say cutting your grass is the same as someone playing on a dirt bike is just silly. There are 2 kinds of noise, necessary noise such as cutting grass, weed wacking and so on and un-necessary noise like dirt bikes , four wheelers and yes even constant dog barking. When one chooses to live in a city or town they have a right to peace and quite. However if you do make a stand against un-necessary noise don't be a toothless lion like Greencastle, follow through and take back your town for all the residents!

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Mon, Jun 6, 2011, at 8:30 AM
  • so does this mean I can mow my yard at 2am now?

    -- Posted by kowboy on Mon, Jun 6, 2011, at 7:44 PM
  • When someone moves to a city or town they have a right to peace and quite? Its a town or a city, you have more people therefore more noise, if you want peace and quite you should have thought about moving in the country. And there isnt two kinds of noise. There is just noise. If the noise is the topic of town meetings then I'd say people have their priorities mixed up. I would be more worried about the water/sewer issue and road issues.

    -- Posted by H.A.C.K. on Tue, Jun 7, 2011, at 6:47 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: