Public hearing on noise ordinance set for Monday

The Jefferson City Council will take action Monday on a proposed new noise ordinance, and a public hearing is set for the beginning of the meeting to allow for additional input from the community.

The proposed ordinance, which has been discussed in several committees and debated by council members at the last City Council meeting, would establish a measurable way of determining when a resident or business is in violation of the noise ordinance through decibel readings.

Public Works Director Roger Schwartze took a sound level meter and measured various city noises to help establish the limits in each zoning classification. The maximum permitted sound levels are greater for commercial and industrial zones than residential and are split between daytime and nighttime hours, when sound levels must be lower.

City attorney Drew Hilpert said the council will hear some examples of various noise levels at Monday's meeting.