SALUDA– After numerous complaints to the city over noise, the Saluda Board of Commissioners has asked for a rewrite of its current noise ordinance, which staff says is hard to enforce.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Nov. 14 and discussed its noise ordinance as well as heard public comments regarding noise complaints.

Saluda manager Jon Cannon said the number of calls that is coming in are currently lower due to cooler weather.

Cannon said the city’s noise ordinance says “particularly” between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and he takes that to mean that those hours are the most closely watched but could also mean any time of the day.

“If a call comes in for a noise complaint of any musical instrument and it’s bothering anyone on any level, we have the authority to go in and enforce it,” Cannon said. “That could apply to a business with live music, it could apply to a child practicing a trombone in their house, it could apply to the Salvation Army ringing bells (at Christmas).”

Cannon also reviewed decibels, saying a conversation registers 60 decibels, loud singing is 75, a blender is 90, a power mower is 107 and jet planes are 130. He said other ordinances he has reviewed set decibels as low as 60-70.

Officers said there have been several complaints, particularly over the summer, ranging from people outside talking too loud, music and speakers.

Commissioner Mark Oxtoby said if the city is going to go with decibels, it would have been nice to collect data over the summer as far as how many decibels certain sounds are.

Commissioner Stan Walker said if someone used a decibel meter at the truck stop, it would register 75 or 80 just from the interstate.

“I think we can agree the ordinance we have is difficult at best to enforce,” said Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden. “You can enforce it hard or not so hard. We need to come up with something in between that works for everybody.”

Oxtoby said he has a decibel meter and volunteered to collect some data.

During public comments, Susan Casey, owner of the Purple Onion, said she has tried to contain the noise within the building.

“Saluda has a rich history of music here,” Casey said.

She asked that the city consider the revenue and the jobs provided by the businesses that feature live music, as a component of the ordinance. She said the ordinance was written in 2004 and is rather strict.

“We’ve been doing live music for 18 years,” Casey said. “I can’t imagine not having that as a part of it. It brings a lot of people into town.”

Casey also said Saluda is so rich in culture, music and arts and so many other towns are envious of what Saluda has going on.

Green River Brew Depot owner Heath Potter said he is also doing his part in trying to keep the noise down from live music. He said having live music does generate a lot more revenue and in the summer people want to be outside. He said in the winter most of the bands are going to be indoors but the same thing will be happening come spring.

Commissioner Carolyn Ashburn said she doesn’t think there’s anyone on the board who is against music. She said she just wants to make sure the ordinance the city will enact is fair to everybody and reasonable and measurable.

Commissioners decided for Cannon to work on a new ordinance to present to the board and for commissioner Oxtoby to use his meter to collect data.