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Residents urge county to curb late-night noise and lights at Buena Vista Event Center
Summary
Residents from Wakarusa-area neighborhoods told Shawnee County commissioners that loud music, thumping bass and strobe lighting from the Buena Vista Event Center have repeatedly woken families late at night. County staff said they will investigate licensing, fire and zoning issues and review a criminal nuisance statute with the sheriff and district attorney.
Residents living near the Buena Vista Event Center on the former Wakarusa Sale Barn told the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners on March 26 that repeated late-night music and flashing lights have disrupted sleep and raised safety concerns.
"The music was loud enough that even while I was in the house watching TV, it took me a while to figure out what was happening," said Larry Miller, who gave his Wakarusa address during public comment. Multiple speakers said the bass and amplified sound can be heard miles away and has woken neighbors as late as 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.
The complaints prompted an extended response from county staff. "There is a Kansas criminal statute, KSA 21-6204, and we're going to have a conversation with the sheriff about being able to use this statute," said Rich Eckert, county counselor, who said his office (a civil office) will coordinate with the district attorney if criminal charges are appropriate. "We are looking at it," he said, noting previous attempts to regulate noise and the county's experience operating its own event venue.
Joanie Thadani, director of Land Use and Development, told commissioners she found the venue's operator has a caterer's license and has used temporary ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) permits for inside events. "Because they have the caterer's license that you can, in essence, use anywhere, you then apply for a temporary permit," Thadani said. She added that indoor events sometimes do not require zoning signoff, but that the current use — described by residents as acting like a bar, dance hall or pool hall — might require a conditional use permit and additional oversight. Thadani also said fire inspections and checks for septic and RV usage are needed.
Several residents described the practical impacts. "It shakes my house because it's so loud," said Kayla Means, who lives across the highway from the venue and described Thursday-night practices and weekend events that run into the early hours. Rick Lutz, another nearby resident, said the venue advertises beer sales and that patrons leaving late at night are a concern for road safety.
County staff outlined the enforcement process: inspectors issue a written notice of alleged violations and allow a response period; if the operator fails to comply, the case can be forwarded to the county counselor's office and pursued through civil enforcement. Eckert also said police tickets would help the district attorney consider criminal nuisance charges.
Commissioners urged residents to keep calling the Shawnee County Sheriff to document complaints while planning and zoning and legal staff investigate. No formal enforcement action was announced at the meeting; staff said they will pursue zoning, licensing and code inspections and report back.
What comes next: county planning and zoning will inspect the site, coordinate with the fire district on code compliance, confirm what ABC permits were used, and, if violations are found, begin the county's enforcement steps, which can include written notices and potential civil action. Residents were asked to continue reporting occurrences to the sheriff to build an enforcement record.
