In June, the City of Cornelia reached out to the public regarding an issue that was “plaguing” the city: large gatherings and the noise they produce. The city commission scheduled a public hearing at their July meeting to hear citizen’s input on the noise ordinance and their idea to limit large gatherings in residential areas.
Nearly a dozen citizens came to speak during the public hearing, some calling the possible ordinance amendments too restrictive, others bringing up the racial implications of where the gathering and noise complaints were from. What the residents and commission seemed to agree upon was that loud noise emitting from a residential property was the problem, not the gatherings themselves.
Tonight, the commission unanimously voted to post a new amendment to the noise ordinance. The discussed amendment would make noise that can be heard 100 feet away from a residential property at any time of day a ticketable offense.
The commission also voted to post an amendment to the noise ordinance that would make operating a motorized vehicle that emits noise exceeding 95 decibels, about the sound of a lawnmower or motorcycle, on public roads a ticketable offense.
The Cornelia Fire Department, as well as Cornelia residents, have asked the commission to consider creating a deterrent to operating vehicles that have been modified to make excessive noise.
“I hear this [noise] all day, all afternoon, especially when they [drivers of loud vehicles] get off work and start cruising around town,” says Commissioner Don Bagwell. “There’s just no excuse for that; it scares you when it happens because you don’t really know what the sound is.”
Officers could ticket individuals for either of these amendments if they pass. Both amendments will be discussed in a public hearing during the city’s next meeting, which is scheduled for September 7.
A recording of the meeting is available here.
