Bar not alone in noise complaints

MAT-SU -- Two noise citations have been filed against Fish Heads Bar since the Mat-Su Borough Assembly enacted the ordinance May 21, according to Mat-Su Borough Chief of Code Compliance Ken Hudson. But Fish Heads is not the only business against whom complaints have been filed.

The complaints regarding music at Fish Heads Bar have centered on the noise element, not vibration, Hudson said. Both complaints state that, between 1:30 and 4 a.m., the noise from the bar was "constant or almost constant." The borough has investigated the complaints and issued the citations, which Hudson said bar owner Bob Stevens has not yet responded to. But more complaints are filtering into Hudson's office.

"We've received complaints about the racetrack P.A. system," Hudson said, referring to the public announcement system at Capitol Speedway in Willow. He said his office has received verbal complaints about the public announcement system at Capitol, and also received verbal notice of an intent to submit a written complaint about Alaska Raceway in Butte.

The new noise ordinance, Hudson said, doesn't specifically apply to public announcement systems, but it does provide a format that wasn't formerly available for lodging complaints. Hudson explained that the borough noise ordinance that establishes maximum decibel levels at certain times of the day within the core area did not previously apply to residents in the Butte or Willow area.

The noise ordinance has generated a lot of interest, Hudson said, also because it has a more restrictive time frame -- only the hours of 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 4 p.m. to midnight on weekends are acceptable for the play of amplified music loud enough to cross property lines. The existing noise ordinance is somewhat less restrictive, in that the quiet hours are shorter and sound crossing property lines must meet a certain decibel level to be considered a nuisance.

With the recent enactment of the new noise and vibration ordinance, which limits amplified music, Hudson's office has received a number of calls from people wondering whether the ordinance applies to chainsaws, the Palmer rock quarry, racetracks and other non-musical noise.

"People called in to inquire about the ordinance when they heard a hot-tub noise," Hudson said. "On the other end of the spectrum, they've called about the vibration and noise associated with blasting at the quarry."

Hudson said borough staff aren't moving forward with any ordinance limiting hot tub noise, but an interim materials district ordinance is being worked on that may apply to the work at the rock quarry. Although Hudson said he is not working on the ordinance, he understands it is more geared at protecting the use of gravel pits while they're in operation, and providing for reclamation of the land after the pit closes.

About $10,000 has been spent thus far on enforcing the ordinance, Hudson said. The majority of that -- about $7,000 -- was spent on consultant fees for an initial analysis of the noise and vibration levels emanating from Fish Heads Bar. Since that work was done, about $3,000 has been spent to do follow-up monitoring. The cost, Hudson said, entailed having a contractor monitor the noise levels emanating from the bar at the houses on the bluff above.

Hudson said a warning letter was issued to Stevens. He can choose whether to pay the fine or contest the matter in Palmer District Court. A potential court date has not yet been set.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.