MONROE - New sound regulations go into effect as soon as the city publishes the rewritten ordinances passed Tuesday by the Common Council.
The new ordinances, which affect three sections of the city code, define background music and amplified sound, distinguish nuisance noise and permissible sound levels, and spell out exemptions and enforcement, among other topics.
Permit limitations are made for short-term and long-term amplified sounds and background music. Penalties for those found guilty of violations to the new regulations will face forfeitures, with increasing levels for recurring offenses. Each day in violation could bring a new offense.
As a last minute addition to the ordinances, City Attorney Rex Ewald and City Clerk Carol Stamm determined that the affected geographical area needed to be defined in permit applications and that long-term permits should allow for events that occur as part of a series of coordinated events by a single sponsor. The Council concurred with the new additions, which were made as part of the original motion.
All nine aldermen gave their vote of approval.
The new city rules for controlling amplified sounds and background music came out of several complaints and a petition about the volume and periods of time music was being played from the county's historic courthouse on the Square. Main Street Monroe holds the permit to play the music; Green County Clerk Michael Doyle manages the technology - a satellite radio tuned to a classical music channel.
In response to the complaints, the city temporarily halted the music in late April, because it violated current city code. The complaints pointed out that the music was to be limited to being heard within 50 feet of the courthouse. Instead, the sound was drifting hundreds of feet beyond.
No one spoke at the public hearing for the ordinance changes on Tuesday, but three residents said after the meeting they came to see the outcome of the ordinance.
Tom and Sherrill Kelly, who live on the Square downtown, and Jan Lefevre, who lives several blocks off the Square, said they never had a problem with the courthouse music.
Sherrill Kelly added that she had no problems with the wording in the new ordinances. She serves on Monroe's downtown Business Improvement District Board, which funds a large portion of Main Street Monroe.
Music from the historic courthouse has been a part of downtown Monroe for about 15 years. Under new permitting regulations, Main Street Monroe could decide to use an amplified sound permit or a background music permit for its downtown ambience.
New fees for sound permits, set by Council on Tuesday, will cost the organization $400 per year for amplified sound, or $75 per year for background music. Playing any sound except music, such as voices, would require the more expensive permit.
The new ordinances, which affect three sections of the city code, define background music and amplified sound, distinguish nuisance noise and permissible sound levels, and spell out exemptions and enforcement, among other topics.
Permit limitations are made for short-term and long-term amplified sounds and background music. Penalties for those found guilty of violations to the new regulations will face forfeitures, with increasing levels for recurring offenses. Each day in violation could bring a new offense.
As a last minute addition to the ordinances, City Attorney Rex Ewald and City Clerk Carol Stamm determined that the affected geographical area needed to be defined in permit applications and that long-term permits should allow for events that occur as part of a series of coordinated events by a single sponsor. The Council concurred with the new additions, which were made as part of the original motion.
All nine aldermen gave their vote of approval.
The new city rules for controlling amplified sounds and background music came out of several complaints and a petition about the volume and periods of time music was being played from the county's historic courthouse on the Square. Main Street Monroe holds the permit to play the music; Green County Clerk Michael Doyle manages the technology - a satellite radio tuned to a classical music channel.
In response to the complaints, the city temporarily halted the music in late April, because it violated current city code. The complaints pointed out that the music was to be limited to being heard within 50 feet of the courthouse. Instead, the sound was drifting hundreds of feet beyond.
No one spoke at the public hearing for the ordinance changes on Tuesday, but three residents said after the meeting they came to see the outcome of the ordinance.
Tom and Sherrill Kelly, who live on the Square downtown, and Jan Lefevre, who lives several blocks off the Square, said they never had a problem with the courthouse music.
Sherrill Kelly added that she had no problems with the wording in the new ordinances. She serves on Monroe's downtown Business Improvement District Board, which funds a large portion of Main Street Monroe.
Music from the historic courthouse has been a part of downtown Monroe for about 15 years. Under new permitting regulations, Main Street Monroe could decide to use an amplified sound permit or a background music permit for its downtown ambience.
New fees for sound permits, set by Council on Tuesday, will cost the organization $400 per year for amplified sound, or $75 per year for background music. Playing any sound except music, such as voices, would require the more expensive permit.