The Two Rivers Council is looking at extending the cutoff time for loud noise in the city.
The council discussed the change with the owners of Whiskey D’s Bar on 26th Street, who’ve gotten some tickets for being too loud in the past.
The owners spoke about how, to them, it’s hard to own a business in Two Rivers when they keep getting ticketed for noise.
“I feel like it’s almost not worth trying to start a business in Two Rivers if you are harassed, although not as much anymore, but also ticketed,” she explained. “I agree that there should be an ordinance with noise, but I feel I should, along with every other person who owns a business, be able to do, within reason, stuff during the day even.”
Most of the council seems to want to change the hours so loud noise enforcement would start at 11:00 p.m. instead of 10:00 p.m. Friday through Saturday.
The change would be year-round as well. Police Chief Ben Meinnert says whatever the council’s decision, police want to remain unbiased.
“We’re trying to ride the middle of it,” he describes. “Obviously we want to respect the residents and we want to certainly encourage and respect the business owners. But it’s pretty hard to have success if you can’t have some noise but at the same time what’s too much that a resident can’t get to sleep either.”
Councilmembers also discussed but didn’t give a decision on how they believe sound should be measured if someone makes a complaint about how loud a business is or how much vibration the noise is causing. The council could approve an update to the ordinance at their regular meeting next week.
