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Will County committee keeps noise ordinance on the books, urges sheriff coordination on decibel equipment
Summary
Committee members described local noise enforcement as ineffective without certified decibel meters and sheriff cooperation; the committee voted to keep the public-nuisance provisions and ask the sheriff about equipment and possible budget support.
During a lengthy review of Chapter 93 (public nuisances), the Will County ad hoc ordinance review committee kept the county noise ordinance on the books but highlighted enforcement gaps tied to equipment and sheriff resources.
Member Newquist told the committee, “our noise ordinances are absolutely useless,” describing a constituent who bought and used a personal decibel meter to document repeated backyard concerts. Staff counsel (Mack) explained that enforceable noise enforcement relies on calibrated, certified decibel meters and that earlier court rulings required measurable standards in the ordinance for a provable case.
Members discussed whether to remove the noise rules from the books or pursue funding for enforcement equipment. Several members recommended keeping the ordinance in place while the committee asks the sheriff’s office whether it would purchase calibrated meters and, if necessary, whether the finance or executive committees could consider a budget request for equipment and calibration services.
Committee members also raised related public-nuisance items (penalties, enforcement authority and the definition of 'residential area' elsewhere in county code). The committee voted to forward Chapter 93 to the executive committee for follow-up — including a request that staff contact the sheriff about enforcement needs and equipment costs.
The executive committee will determine next steps and any budgetary action.
