No Alamo Township noise ordinance vote

ALAMO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - The Alamo Township board did not vote on a proposed noise ordinance Monday evening.

The proposed noise ordinance would ban any loud noise after 11 p.m. and ban noise louder than 82 decibels at all times. The township meeting at which the ordinance initially would have been discussed was so crowded that it had to be rescheduled at a larger venue -- an elementary school gym. Monday, that gym was also packed.

But after public comment, the board decided not to vote on the ordinance just yet. Members instead voted 4-1 to send the ordinance back to the township planning commission for more discussion.

The board may take the issue up again on March 12.

Most residents who spoke at the meeting opposed the ordinance. They said they think the ordinance is too invasive and would affect use of snowblowers and other equipment.

"I am concerned that my young adult children will no longer be allowed to have campfires with friends, ride go-carts, or work on cars in our garage without being in compliance with this ordinance," said resident Julie Potter.

And resident Norma Klienert said the issue should be voted on by the public.

Only one person spoke in support of the ordinance.

Before deciding to postpone an ordinance vote, the board approved a deal that would exempt the Kalamazoo Speedway from the proposed ordinance for at least a year.

Speedway owner Gary Howe had said the ordinance would put him out of business, but the board's first order of business Monday was to vote to move forward with a six-point "Pathway to Resolution" to prevent that from happening.

"It was always my intention to come up with a fair solution and that's where I think Gary and I are headed for," said Township Supervisor Lou Conti.

During the year of exemption, the township will conduct decibel testing and the Speedway will work to modify race cars to make them less loud, making changes to the mufflers and tailpipes in the cars. The Speedway will also eliminate 45 practice days.

Some residents at the meeting were upset the vote on that deal happened before public comment.

"Was it your intention to pass a motion without allowing citizen comment on the matter?" demanded one resident.