By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
With a relatively flat terrain and pockets of underdeveloped areas, Pleasant Township makes an attraction location for riding enthusiasts.
Nearly every day, the sound of dirt bikes can be heard throughout the township, but not everyone is thrilled by its presence.
At the April 25 board of trustees meeting, chairwoman Nancy Hunter said that the board has received an influx of complaints about the noise generated from the use of dirt bikes.
“It is spread across the township,” she said.
Though the use of dirt bikes is permitted, there is a noise ordinance in place that one has to abide by. The question posed at the meeting though asked how much noise is too much noise.
Resident Sonya Moser attended the meeting to speak about the number of visits she has received from local law enforcement officials due to her son’s use of a dirt bike.
According to Moser, her son rides his bike on their property and does not do it with much frequency.
“He’s not out there every day or out there at all hours,” she said.
On a typical venture on the bike, Moser said he rides for about 15 minutes and mostly on the weekends.
“I can’t see what is so bothersome about 15 minutes on a bike,” she said.
Moser added that the complaints she receives are from a neighbor who seems to call the authorities every time her son rides his bike.
She told the board she has spoken with the neighbor to ask if there was an appropriate time for him to be out, but was not given an answer.
“We’re not trying to be bad neighbors,” she said.
Hunter said the noise ordinance states that decibel levels not to exceed those of a chainsaw or lawnmower.
Moser noted that the noise generated from the use of chainsaws and lawnmowers go on longer than 15 minutes.
The board said they understand her frustration and commended Moser for her willingness to try to reach a compromise with the neighbor. They also said there is not much they can do about the complaints, particularly with her issues as it seems to be a neighborly dispute.
Upon noting that the complaints the board received were not directed at the Moser family, Hunter asked that other residents who use dirt bikes to use them at reasonable hours and for a reasonable duration.
