Amherst County officials hesitate to adopt noise ordinance

AMHERST — After testing a sound measuring device from the Lynchburg Police Department on several power tools and loud music Tuesday, Amherst County officials hesitated to adopt a more restrictive noise ordinance.

The Board of Supervisors wants to host roundtable talks with its attorney, the Amherst County Sheriff’s Department and the commonwealth’s attorney regarding the county’s noise issues before acting. The board wanted to see how a decibel reader, a component in proposed ordinance changes, operates.

For months county residents, particularly in Madison Heights, have pleaded for stricter laws due to excessive noise from loiterers, car engines and barking dogs. Deputies have faced confusion in enforcing current laws, said County Attorney J. Vaden Hunt, and a new ordinance gives the county “more teeth” in enforcing.

Hunt drafted an ordinance that set a level that couldn’t exceed 65 decibels from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.. The level is lowered to 52 decibels in residential areas.

“I don’t want to put an ordinance on the books that’s not going to do anything,” said Supervisor Don Kidd.

Captain Mike Robinson of the Sheriff’s Department said the biggest noise issue, as far as deputies are concerned, is loud music. There have been 180 complaints from January to early November.

“We need to get everybody together to see how to work this out,” Supervisor Chris Adams said of the roundtable discussion.

In other news:
-County Administrator Rodney Taylor announced John J. Mulvey has been hired as the county’s economic development director. Mulvey has served as economic development director of Washington County, N.C., and replaces Joe Mullen, who retired.

- Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution supporting a legislative agenda for the next General Assembly session, which Taylor said would be presented to local legislators today. The agenda asks the state to ensure the Amherst residency office of the Virginia Department of Transportation would not be closed due to budget cutbacks. It also asks that $43 million of state funds for the Central Virginia Training Center be spent mainly to address critical life and safety issues on campus.