Neighbors complain of persistent noise from Frederick Welding; Board of Adjustment says it lacks authority to revoke special exception

The Jackson County Board of Adjustment on April 28 heard sustained public testimony from neighbors who say excessive and sporadic noise from Frederick Welding and Repair has disrupted life on adjacent properties. After hearing testimony and reviewing recordings submitted by neighbors, the board concluded it lacked statutory authority to revoke the home‑industry special exception granted in 2007 and dismissed the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.

Neighbor Jennifer Fink, who lives across the road from the business, described repeated disturbances and said she and her husband, Chuck, have documented the problem. “The constant excessive noise caused by project welding and repair ... persists at all hours,” she told the board, adding that she had kept “over 200 audio files in the past month” to document noise during early mornings, evenings and weekends. Fink said the noise has forced changes in employment and family life, including switching jobs and canceling family gatherings.

Tom Frederick, owner of the business, told the board he performs farm-equipment repair and fabrication work that can be noisy and that some machinery simply cannot be moved inside the building; he said he had been told during the original approval that certain activities and a small number of employees were permitted. “I ain't saying I don't make no noise. I'm not sitting back,” Frederick said, noting that he has worked at the site for many years and that many of his repairs are agricultural in nature.

Legal and procedural context: County staff advised the board that state law and county precedent limit the board’s authority to revoke an already‑granted…