Madison County commissioners introduce revised noise ordinance, set public comment

The Madison County Board of Commissioners voted to introduce by title a revised noise ordinance, labeled in the meeting record as ordinance 2025-BC-O-1, and scheduled the measure for public comment at the board's next meeting.

The ordinance was reintroduced after residents and commissioners described recurring loud and vulgar music and other disturbances in rural neighborhoods. “They come and they say, we have nothing to enforce. I can't do anything,” resident Mark McLaughlin said of repeated calls to law enforcement about a neighbor’s loud music. McLaughlin told the commissioners his household had sought remedies, including civil action.

County attorney Jeff (last name not specified in the record) described existing remedies and how the ordinance would differ. He told the board that private remedies such as civil nuisance suits exist and that criminal charges like disorderly conduct can apply in some circumstances, but that the proposed ordinance would provide a more readily enforceable county-level violation. “This is just an ordinance violation. Only brings across a fine,” Jeff said, adding the lower evidentiary burden for ordinance enforcement compared with some state statutes.

Commissioners said the reworked draft removed several provisions that had drawn earlier concern and added exemptions intended to protect rural activities, such as lawful shooting on private property. The board agreed to circulate the revised draft to Sheriff Beaman for review and to accept public comment on the ordinance at the next meeting.

A motion to introduce the ordinance by title only was made and carried by voice vote.

What happened next: The board directed staff to publish the revised ordinance and to solicit comment from the sheriff; public hearings will occur at the next scheduled meeting when the ordinance returns for further consideration.