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Resident complaints prompt review of county 'air compression brake' ordinance
Summary
A resident on a five‑mile curve asked the county to address truck noise and use of engine/exhaust brakes; planning staff said the ordinance language is inaccurate and recommended revising posted locations and the technical terminology to avoid penalizing safety‑required braking on heavy vehicles.
A resident who lives by a five-mile curve told commissioners heavy trucks regularly use engine/exhaust brakes and generate noise that disturbs nearby homes. Planning staff reviewed the county ordinance and said the term used in the code, "air compression brake," is incorrect and should be revised to reflect either "exhaust brake" or "engine brake." Staff also recommended updating the ordinance's posted location segments so they accurately reflect road names and coordinates.
"There's no such thing as an air compression brake. It's either an exhaust brake or an engine brake," planning staff said in the discussion and suggested rewording the ordinance and re-posting narrower, targeted restrictions rather than broad blanket bans that would be impractical to enforce on busy agricultural roads. Residents and staff acknowledged safety concerns for heavy vehicles on steep grades and noted enforcement is already in practice in specific posted areas.
Commissioners asked planning staff to draft ordinance language changes and to return with suggested map segments and enforceable parameters, including options to set numeric thresholds that distinguish noise-abating necessary braking from avoidable, loud modifications. Staff said they will also coordinate with sheriff deputies on feasible enforcement and practical signage updates.
What happens next: planning will prepare ordinance edits and a map for commissioners to review, considering both safety for heavy vehicles and noise reduction for neighbors.
