My position on this new noise ordinance is that it will be far too arbitrary if the ordinance does not have a measurable, quantifiable measuring device such as a decibel meter and a fair way of measuring it. What if the officer on duty is hard of hearing? It has been said that "technical difficulties" resulted in the omission of the decibel meter in this new ordinance. This is ridiculous, a child can operate a decibel meter. I have used them in the past with definite, measurable results. The officer goes to the home/complainant, stands 50 feet away and aims the meter at the offending party. Click, and you have your evidence for all to see and report. This should make it easier for the officer rather than being in a situation to have to deal with an angry homeowner who might not agree with the officer's personal opinion. They both look at the device and it either is too loud or it is not, period. The manager should have the opportunity to view the measurement as well. Without the meter, the officer shows up, the homeowner is heated and emotional and determined to convince the officer it is too loud. That puts the officer in a spot to be judge and jury on the spot. Unfair.
To rely on any one's "opinion" of what's too loud is just plain unfair. Clearly a handful of people have an agenda here and their idea of what is too loud may be very different from others. In the end whatever is passed should be fair. Surely other towns have come up with fair ordinances. To adopt an old outdated one without using meters created years ago in Grayton Beach is a lazy approach. One business has been shuttered and a manager of another has been dragged off to jail. We are a tourist destination with urban sections of each town that have been lawfully providing entertainment for many, many years.
If you build a home next to a dump then you should be willing to get used to the smell. If I buy a home next to a restaurant that has had live entertainment for many years then I should be willing to tolerate a fair level of sound emanating from that place. If that place goes overboard with sound issues than there should be a way of measuring that sound that is clearly measurable so it excludes people's emotions and opinions. What's at stake is here is business's income and people's right to peace and quiet; both are equally important.
There are extreme opinions on either side. Our county should work to find a middle ground that is fair to all. If this arbitrary new noise ordinance is passed only the few who scream the loudest will be heard.