PENDER COUNTY — After voting to amend the noise ordinance just last week, Pender commissioners delayed the change, with plans to hear from residents.
READ MORE: Pender commissioners vote to curb dirtbike noise
On Aug. 4, the Pender County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to delay a noise ordinance amendment, which restricted dirtbike noise by 70 or more decibels. Commissioners vowed to meet with the community in a town hall to discuss it further.
The ordinance originally passed July 28 in a 3-2 vote (Brad George and Randy Burton dissented), but Monday’s meeting had 21 people attend to speak out during public comment. The commissioners also said they had received numerous complaints since the ordinance amendment passed.
“I’m delighted to hear Mr. Burton say publicly that he hopes citizens will attend town hall public meetings and workshops about the very important issue of the noise ordinance,” resident Rochelle Whiteside stated. “This is exactly what the public needs and the public awaits what we hope will be the first of many town hall public meetings where all commissioners and supporting staff are present.”
Tate successfully motioned to suspend meeting rules to address the issue, which was not on the agenda; it passed unanimously. While it led to the delay of the ordinance, Attorney Trey Thurman was clear the ordinance wasn’t reversed but only postponed.
“I don’t think it’s fair to penalize the entire county for an issue that happened in one community and as one public servant, the people have overwhelmingly spoken on this particular issue enough,” Commissioner Jimmy Tate said. “Let me say that we must be willing to revisit when it needs to be revisited.”
Many people had been speaking out for changes to the ordinance in the last few months during public comment; however, most were neighbors to Salty Acres. The Airbnb rental property is equipped with a 60-acre dirtbike track, three motocross tracks, a side-by-side track, and multiple trails.
Two neighbors claimed the dirtbike noise was disruptive to their daily lives, with some attending previous commissioner meetings to complain before the July 28 amendment was passed. Bill McCabe claimed to hear the noise while inside his home, “2,000 feet” from the property.
Tate said he wished people who were against changing the ordinance would have also shown up to speak before the commissioners passed the noise ordinance amendment.
Many who spoke against the change Monday were holding electronic tea lights, with the intent of “shining a light” on the commissioners’ decision.
Resident Amy Jones wanted each commissioner to appear at the proposed town hall meeting.
“I understand that this is one more thing added to your plate,” Jones said. “I believe it would foster a sense of community and give Pender County citizens as a whole a chance to ask questions and engage in healthy discussions pertaining to decisions being made that will impact citizens in the county.”
The sentiment was echoed by others, including resident Amy Schooley, who said community discussions were “vital” to transparent government operations and decisions affecting the community at large.
“I also encourage you to continue hosting similar meetings on other important issues impacting Pender County, for example, the Fire and EMS merger,” she added.
Chair Randy Burton, who previously voted against the amendments on July 28, told Port City Daily it’s always a “difficult decision” to tell people what they can and cannot do.
“I think it’s a struggle within a lot of municipalities and county governments,” Burton stated. “They struggle with trying to have a fine line on property rights versus, you know, the rights of your neighbors. Hopefully the neighbors and the owner will get together and will get an amicable resolution.”
Property owner Chad Nichols, his lawyer, and Salty Acres patrons spoke against the amended noise ordinance on July 28, calling the changes a violation of property rights. The amendments marked the second time in seven months commissioners approved changes to the noise ordinance.
A future town hall meeting on the noise ordinance is still being scheduled and will be publicized by the county.
Though having voted against delaying the amended ordinance, Commissioner Groves supported meeting the public to continue discussion on the issue. However, he compelled the audience to attend government meetings more frequently and stick around even after the issue they’re concerned about is addressed.
“When they come, they come and speak, and next thing you know, the room is empty,” Groves said. “I encourage all of them to stay so that they can hear us talk.”
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