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Resident-led noise ordinance proposal referred to plan commission after public presentation
Summary
A Marshall County resident presented a detailed draft noise ordinance with decibel thresholds and penalties; commissioners agreed to forward the draft to the plan commission and asked the sheriff’s office to review enforceability.
A Marshall County resident presented a comprehensive draft countywide noise ordinance at the commissioners’ March 2 meeting and asked the board to adopt rules to help neighbors resolve persistent excessive-noise problems.
Philip (Phil) Smith described a multi-section ordinance that sets decibel thresholds, enumerates prohibited acts (amplified sound, modified vehicle exhaust, fireworks outside approved days), outlines exemptions and prescribes escalating penalties: warning for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and higher fines for repeated violations. He cited an Indiana code section as the legal basis for disorderly‑conduct‑style enforcement and urged the county to equip patrol officers with decibel meters.
"No person shall make, continue, or cause to be made any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise... which disturbs the peace," Phil told the board, summarizing the proposed draft. Commissioners raised jurisdiction questions — several provisions could overlap with town or city authority — and recommended the plan commission review zoning and enforcement implications and asked that a copy be shared with the sheriff for operational input.
During the public‑comment portion, two residents (Lori Smith and Gail, contact on file) told commissioners they had experienced repeated noise from off‑road vehicles and dirt bikes on a neighboring parcel and said enforcement options had been ineffective. Lori described repeated weekend and nighttime disturbances that she said had persisted despite neighbor outreach and calls to law enforcement.
Commissioners did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting; they voted to refer the draft to the plan commission for review and asked for the sheriff’s department to evaluate enforceability and any existing nuisance or zoning violations at the specific properties raised in public comment.
The plan commission will review the draft and return recommendations to the commissioners, who may then consider next steps including revised language, implementation costs for enforcement (decibel meters for deputies), or town/city coordination.
