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Saint Charles residents decry early-morning truck noise near levee; council says it will investigate
Summary
A resident told the council that heavy-material shipments across a nearby levee have caused daily, early-morning noise since Jan. 23; the council said it is reviewing how the parish noise ordinance is being interpreted.
A Saint Rose resident told the Saint Charles Parish Council on March 10 that early-morning truck traffic moving heavy materials across a levee has caused persistent, sleep-disrupting noise for homes on South Pin Oak Drive.
Wendy Carter said the noise began Jan. 23 and at times wakes her household as early as 4:18 a.m. She told the council she and neighbors have recorded video of trucks using engine brakes and modified exhaust systems, and that material-loading activity continues into the evening.
"The noise is so nerve wracking. It's like we had PTSD on every single noise now," Carter said. She told the council she and her husband have taken videos and have contacted police and parish staff; Carter said police advised residents the area is industrial and that modified exhaust systems are permitted.
Carter also said she spoke with Eddie Renton at the work site and that Renton told her husband that he "owns the back door, the levee, and 5 feet of our servitude." Carter said her homeowners association had paid to fill and maintain a servitude ditch adjacent to the neighborhood and that heavy trucks have created deep ruts in the servitude.
Councilwoman Michelle Daniels thanked Carter and other residents for coming and said the council is reviewing the matter. "As we spoke, there's some confusion as to how the ordinance is written, how is it being interpreted, and we're looking into that," Daniels said.
At the meeting residents were told that prior attempts to have police enforce noise were met with advice that the work is in an industrial area; Carter said an officer suggested contacting state lawmakers or bringing legal action. The council took no formal vote at the meeting and did not adopt a new enforcement measure; members said staff will investigate existing noise-ordinance interpretation and enforcement options.
Carter asked the council whether trucks could use an alternate ramp route to keep heavy traffic away from the neighborhood; council members said they would review the routing, servitude claims and enforcement questions raised by residents. No timeline for staff follow-up was given at the meeting.
