Commissioners to consider rescinding noise ordinance

By Lisa Majors-Duff

And what the three of them (Commissioners Conrad Burrell and Roberta Crawford were absent due to vacation schedules) decided was that the law has few good points.

Commission Chairman Jay Denton opened the discussion by admitting to being in violation of the at least two sections of the ordinance, those dealing with pets and fireworks.

"I'm in violation of this ordinance if my neighbors find (my dogs barking) offensive," said Denton. "And the section on fireworks? Why I was someplace the other night were we blew that one all to blazes."

He further questioned several other sections of the document, including one outlawing automobile horns, another calling for no construction operations on Sundays and a third making violent acts and offensive language illegal, matters already addressed by North Carolina Statutes.

"There were rumors out there that we were going to enforce this more," the chairman told those in attendance for the noise ordinance discussion. "But I'd like to see us rescind some of this before any good, law-abiding Jackson County citizen becomes a law breaker."

"I'm for roosters a-crowin', bulls a-bellerin', dogs a-barkin', Harleys a-thumpin' and church bells a-ringin'," said Ira Jones, the county's grounds supervisor and a hunter. "It's part of our heritage."

Denton agreed, saying there is a difference between hunting dogs barking at feeding time and other dogs being allowed to bark at all hours of the day and night.

"Hunting dogs are a tradition, but dogs shouldn't be allowed to bother the neighbors," said Sheriff Jim Cruzan, who said he and his officers have been put in the middle of neighbor-on-neighbor disputes because of the ordinance. Some disputes he has been able to mediate; others have gone to court, Cruzan said.

"The easiest thing to do is rescind (the ordinance) and start all over," said county attorney Raymond Large.

With that in mind, Chairman Denton asked that the ordinance be placed on the board's next meeting agenda for possible action. He said following the meeting that the job of rewriting the ordinance could fall to whomever is hired as county planner.

The Smart Growth Plan, which was originally submitted to the board June 6, was also a topic of some discussion last week.

"I realize all the commissioners are not here tonight, but I would like us to decide a course (of action) tonight," Denton said. "I would like to see this passed."

Commissioners tabled the plan, which was developed after numerous meeting calling for citizen input for the future of the county, last month mainly because of concern about how a proposed fire tax to fund emergency services would be implemented.

"I can support the (plan's) goals, but some of the strategies require some more discussion," said Commissioner Stacy Buchanan, who voiced a concern about passing the document with two commissioners absent. He then suggested a work session be scheduled when all board members would be present.

To accommodate Commissioner Burrell's vacation schedule, the Smart Growth work session and next regular meeting were moved to Thursday, July 25, beginning at 5 p.m.

Other business to come before the board:

- Manager Ken Westmoreland reported the tax assessor's web page had received some 18,000 hits in one month of operation. The tax collector's office is slated to be online next, allowing property owners another option for paying their taxes, he said.

- Westmoreland also reported that mismatching bricks were installed on the new jail, a problem that could impact the construction schedule. The brick manufacturer has tentatively agreed to stain the bricks to match and offer a 50-year warranty on the procedure, he said.

- Commissioners appointed Mary Sheffield to the Solid Waste Board.

- They also approved Denton to serve as a voting delegate at the next N.C. Association of County Commissioners meeting Aug. 22-25.

- All 26 members of the local Juvenile Crime Prevention Council were reappointed.

Before adjourning, commissioners called for a closed session to meet with Economic Development Commission Chairman Tom McClure to discuss an industrial recruitment effort. No additional information was available at press time.

Back to Archive: 07/18/02.