Resident asks Highlands council to lower municipal tractor backup alarm as noise ordinance is updated

James Green, a Highlands resident, told the borough mayor and council on Aug. 20 that the backup alarm on a municipal John Deere tractor exceeds state-recommended sound levels and is audible from more than 100 feet away.

"The vehicle that they have — tractor, it's a John Deere tractor — its backup alarm exceeds the state's recommended safety levels," Green said, adding he recorded the noise on his phone and asked officials to check the alarm setting ("there's a simple knob next to the seat that has 3 settings, high, low, and medium"). He asked that the borough try a lower setting to bring the alarm within recommended limits.

Council members acknowledged the complaint. The presenter said the borough had "added the decibels to our noise order," and staff agreed to investigate the tractor's settings and see whether the alarm can be reduced. O-25-19, introduced during the meeting, would add decibel-based sound level standards to the borough code; a public hearing on that ordinance is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2025.

Why it matters: The complaint ties directly to an ordinance the council introduced to establish numeric sound limits, and the council's follow-up could affect operational procedures for municipal equipment.

What they said: Green described app-based measurements, start times, and his conversations with workers; the presenter confirmed the borough is adding numerical decibel standards to the code and staff will follow up.

Next steps: Staff will investigate the tractor alarm setting and the council will consider public comment on O-25-19 at the Sept. 3, 2025 hearing.