Paris puts off talk of noise study, ordinance
BY DENEEN SMITH
dsmith@kenoshanews.com
PARIS — Residents of Paris have been butting heads over a plan to create a noise ordinance, but the Paris Town Board is not ready to take up the debate.
The board said Tuesday it plans to indefinitely table a discussion of a noise and light study commissioned by the town, and to hold off on making a decision on the ordinance.
Supervisor Ron Kammerzelt said the board plans to make a decision on the issue over the next few months.
“We are still gathering information, and I don’t want anyone’s emotions on both sides jumping to conclusions that haven’t happened yet,” Kammerzelt said. “We have all winter to decide what we are going to do and how we are going to do it.”
In recent weeks, supporters of the Great Lakes Dragaway have been circulating a petition against a noise ordinance.
At the same time, some residents who have long complained about noise generated by the track appeared told the board Tuesday that petition carriers were intimidating people.
Others said the sound study did not accurately portray the sounds generated by the drag racers.
Kammerzelt said after the meeting he hopes a noise ordinance can establish measurable guidelines for the track and others in the community. He said the board will schedule a meeting to discuss the results of the sound study and alternatives for an ordinance.
He said the town is not looking to shut down Great Lakes.
“The best interest of this community, as far as this board member is concerned, is not to close businesses. I don’t think anyone is silly enough to do that,” he said.
