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Resident urges ban on truck engine braking; county schedules work session
Summary
A resident urged Des Moines County supervisors to consider an ordinance restricting engine (jake) brakes and speed limits after repeated early‑morning heavy‑truck noise; county staff and the sheriff reported contacting the contractor and agreed to a work session with the county engineer and attorney to explore enforceable options.
A Burlington‑area resident asked the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on July 14 to consider an ordinance or other measures to curb heavy‑truck engine braking and reduce early‑morning noise on a local haul route.
“Kenny Mattson” said in public comment that for the past three to four years trucks had been using engine brakes repeatedly near his home — sometimes as early as 5:00 a.m. — and described runs of “30 to 400 trucks a day” during peak hauling. He asked the board to “consider making a jig brake or an engine brake ordinance” because the noise disrupts residents.
Kevin Glendidney, speaking for county operations, said the sheriff’s office had contacted the construction company and its management agreed to issue a memo asking drivers to avoid engine braking and reduce speed. Glendidney described that voluntary outreach as the usual first step and noted it often produces immediate compliance, though he acknowledged that “how long that lasts, I can’t say.”
County Engineer Bridal Carter said posting and formal speed‑limit changes require following legal protocols (for a county that normally adopts speed changes by resolution) and recommended further discussion with the sheriff and county attorney. The board agreed to schedule a work session so staff could review local ordinances, enforcement options and signage possibilities and return with recommendations.
What happens next: the supervisors asked staff to set a public work session in the coming one to two weeks with the county engineer, sheriff and county attorney to research feasible measures and report back; the board noted a work session can discuss options but cannot vote on an ordinance until the item is publicly posted on a formal agenda.
