City tweaks law to better deal with noise

The Columbia Falls City Council earlier this month OK’d a change to a city ordinance that puts some teeth into dealing with unusually loud noises.

Under Title 9 of the city code, the city added a new section to its disorderly conduct ordinance that reads a person is guilty of disorderly conduct if one, “makes or causes to be made unreasonably loud uncustomary noise for that place and time.”

It passed with unanimous support from council.

The city has had several complaints recently on various noise fronts. Earlier this winter, a renter at the new Highline Apartments complained that construction crews were working all hours of the night, even on holidays, as they were working against the elements to pour the concrete foundations of the units.

The woman said the noise of generators and other equipment was keeping her from getting enough sleep and she eventually moved out.

In other cases, neighbors have routinely complained about loud music at the bowling alley. There are several apartment buildings that are just behind the alley and residence have oft complained about loud music playing too late at night.

The city has looked at noise ordinances in the past, but they centered on the actual sound levels and city officials didn’t want a law that relied on a decibel meter.

This new ordinance language gives police discretion in enforcement.

City staff have been rewriting and revising the entire city code for several months now. Most of the changes have simply brought the code to modern standards and in compliance with state law. Once the code is completed, the city will post the entire code on its new website, which should be completed this spring.