Residents urge Spanish Fork to act after years of industrial noise from Smith Steel Works

Dawn Johnson, who lives at 501 South 340 West, told the Spanish Fork City Council that loud exhaust and machinery noise from nearby Smith Steel Works has disrupted her life for more than three years and can run 10 to 14 hours a day. She said decibel measurements taken by city staff and officers “were within the city limits of the city noise ordinance,” but added that the noise nonetheless causes anxiety, wakes her in the morning and prevents her from using her porch.

"I'm pleading with you to do something," Dawn Johnson said, describing repeated letters, calls and a visit to the plant manager. Officer Curtis, who took a recent decibel reading, reported it measured 61 decibels and said he had spoken with the owner. Neighbor Joey Stanley, who lives about 100 feet south of Johnson, supported her statement and said the machines sometimes run past the city’s 9 p.m. noise cutoff.

City staff pointed the council to Spanish Fork Ordinance 9.32.040, which allows the council to consider non‑decibel evidence of a disturbance. Council members said they had recorded Johnson’s contact information and would task staff to evaluate options and follow up. No formal motion or enforcement action was announced at the meeting.

The council did not dispute the decibel readings presented at the meeting but acknowledged residents’ accounts that the noise continues despite those readings and asked staff to review enforcement options and possible mitigations, such as site inspections, further measurements at different times and a review of any recent plant modifications.

Next steps: City staff said they would investigate further and contact the complainants about possible follow-up inspections and remedies.