Resident asks Meigs County commission to consider a noise ordinance for early-morning mowing, loud vehicles and waterfront events

Jerry Robinson, a Cole House neighborhood resident, asked the Meigs County Commission to consider adopting a noise ordinance to address early-morning yard mowing, loud vehicles and amplified waterfront events.

Robinson said mower contractors often begin work at 6:00 a.m., which he said disturbs an 8-year-old and a 77-year-old who live in his house. “They start mowing at 06:00,” Robinson said. He also described loud vehicles passing his home at night and waterfront events with amplified sound.

Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement limits. A commissioner said the sheriff has previously visited homes to request that residents quiet amplified sound but that enforcement is difficult on waterfront properties. A staff member noted that mechanical devices are needed to measure sound levels and that, for events on water, the sheriff had said enforcement was difficult.

Commissioners recalled prior complaints that did not resolve in the complainant’s favor and mentioned an outdoor concert at Sandy Bottoms as an example. No draft ordinance or specific enforcement policy was presented, and no vote was taken at the workshop.

The commission did not set a formal next step during the workshop. Commissioners suggested agency staff and enforcement partners (sheriff’s office and code compliance) would need to assess what form an ordinance and enforcement process would take if the commission chose to pursue it.