Cannon Falls to baseline-noise test demolition derby, chief flags siren expansion as town grows

Cannon Falls — City officials told the council Tuesday they will establish a noise-monitoring baseline and test monitoring equipment during the demolition derby (May 22–24) and that the community’s warning sirens will receive annual maintenance at month’s end.

"We are going to get that and establish a baseline test here, um likely next week or the week after, and then um do the testing equipment during the events to make sure that, you know, to monitor that and find the results and verify is there something we can do," John said, describing contact with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to assess event noise and potential mitigation.

The public-safety chief said seasonal weather is shifting into severe-weather season and that the town’s tornado and flood sirens will receive annual maintenance at the end of the month. He recommended the council consider adding warning sirens to the north as the city grows, noting that area is currently outside existing siren coverage and that planning (likely for 2027) would incur additional expense.

Council members also praised the Fire Department’s recent pancake breakfast as a successful community event. One councilmember noted police response to a recent fender bender was under five minutes.

What happens next: The city will run baseline noise monitoring around the fair events and analyze results to determine whether mitigation or ordinance-based action is appropriate; the public-safety department will schedule siren maintenance and plan for any needed expansion.