Russellville adopts noise ordinance

RUSSELLVILLE -- After receiving complaints from residents, the Russellville Town Council has now adopted a noise ordinance. The council and the town at large might also have a party to look forward to.

Town Attorney Stu Weliever said he had practically “stolen” a noise ordinance from a larger town. Acknowledging that “one man’s music is another man’s noise,” he said it gave the town parameters to address excessive noise.

Waiving the second and third readings, the council adopted the noise ordinance. It will be enforceable 30 days after it is officially published as such.

The council also heard a request from community members to close down part of Harrison Street for a planned Rib Fest in September.

The group stated the event would be like the Roachdale Rib & Blues Festival, which organizers canceled due to social distancing concerns. There would be a band on the north end toward Railroad Street, with vendors and the crowd spanning to 1st Street. They added they would consult Midland Co-op about parking space.

Weliever said it was best for the group to contact the Putnam County Health Department for guidance. Regardless, he said the council had the power to close down the road, even though whether the event would take place was to be determined.

The council ultimately approved a motion to close that portion of Harrison Street from Friday morning, Sept. 25 to Saturday evening, Sept. 26, with the proviso that the live music had to end by midnight on both evenings.

In other business:

• The council approved a bid from DC Construction Services for upcoming Community Crossings work. The bid, the lowest of three that were submitted, came in at a little over $115,062.

Weliever stated he had checked out the company for any outstanding lawsuits or complaints lodged against it, but that he found nothing prohibitive. He added that DC Construction is currently performing roadwork in Crawfordsville.

The Community Crossings work in Russellville is set to tackle resurfacing Public Road from Jessie Avenue to 2nd Street.

• The council waived the second and third readings for, then adopted, Ordinance 2020-1, which designates Clerk-Treasurer Martha Mandleco as the “bureau” to collect ordinance fines and penalties.

Council member Cathy Jones was not present at the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Russellville Town Council is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Russellville Community Center.