Brandon Twp.? A public hearing on a proposed revision of the township’s disorderly conduct ordinance brought 14 citizens to the township offices Wednesday night.
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp, Clerk Jeannie McCreery, Trustees Tom Stowell, Sandra Willett, and Bob DeWitt and Building Director Tim Palulian were present to hear complaints, answer questions and address concerns.
The disorderly conduct ordinance is the result of more than two years of research and revisions following public outcry over previous proposed ordinances that were believed to be ‘overreaching,? Palulian said. The new ordinance changes the previous noise section from one paragraph to nearly two pages and will be voted on at a township board meeting March 21.
‘We’ve put a lot of work into the ordinance,? Lapp said. ‘I think it’s a good ordinance.?
Several citizens at the hearing disagreed, questioning how it will be enforced with regards to what is reasonable and unreasonable.
Pam Delandsheer owns six acres of property on which her sons run snowmobiles and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles. She said she bought the property so they could use recreational vehicles and she regulates her boys.
‘My concern is with the ordinance being left up to the enforcing officer,? she said. ‘The concern is with the enforcement and the taxpayer money it will take to enforce.?
Others also questioned the cost, not only of enforcement, but of creating a new ordinance.
‘It’s a waste of money,? one woman said.
Lapp said he doesn’t have a ballpark figure, but anytime there is a new ordinance, attorneys have to review the ordinance and study sessions and public hearings must be held.
‘The cost is what it is. It’s the price of doing business,? said Lapp, who emphasized it is a disorderly conduct ordinance, not a nuisance ordinance. ‘We need an ordinance in place so that we can address concerns. I have great faith in our law enforcement officers efforts to be reasonable. They will enforce impartially.
Other concerns were in regards to farming. Palulian assured citizens that the right to farm takes precedence over the ordinance and the new revisions would not affect farmers. He also noted that if there were a conflict between another existing ordinance and the new ordinance, the stricter one would apply.
Attorneys will be checking the ordinance once more before it comes up for a vote at the township board meeting March 21, but Palulian doesn’t expect any more changes to wording to occur.
Wendy Hirsch supports the ordinance. Her neighbors have a dirt racetrack that comes right to the edge of Hirsch’s property, sending dust flying and dirt over the side of her house from their son racing a dirt bike. She said the noise makes it even difficult to have dinner conversation. She has discussed it with the neighbor, but to no avail.
‘I would like there to be some recourse for me,? Hirsch said. ‘We need to work on solutions. It’s unfortunate that we even need this ordinance.?
Delandsheer agrees there needs to be something, but something that is not too broad or too narrow.
‘We have to hope the enforcing officers are reasonable and objective,? she said.