Some Lake Street residents who have complained about loud noise from a tavern on their street may be getting some results.
One of those residents, Charlene McLemore, attended Monday’s City Council meeting to complain about noise from Guppy’s Lake tavern.
The noise from bands and patrons at the tavern is “way too loud in a neighborhood like ours,” McLemore said. “We can’t even sit in our house and listen to the TV.”
She said she has called police, who measured the decibel level coming from the tavern.
A city ordinance sets decibel levels for noise complaints, and while the responding officer agreed that the noise level was high, it wasn’t as high as the limit set in the ordinance.
But Police Chief Nicholas Welgat said the ordinance setting acceptable decibel levels only applies to establishments within the business district. Since Guppy’s Lake isn’t in the business district, Welgat said, a complaint can be filed if a “reasonable person” feels the noise level is too high.
Welgat told her that if she complains to the police about the noise in the future, an officer can direct the tavern staff to quiet down if he agrees that it’s too noisy.
“I don’t want to close the place down,” McLemore said. “I just want some peace in the neighborhood.”
Also Monday, the council granted two special use permits.
Robinson Outdoor, an Iowa firm, received a permit to put up an electronic advertising sign at 630 Tenney St., southeast of the Scooter’s Coffee building.
Danny Marler, the project manager for Robinson Outdoor, said his company is working with Scooter’s to put up the signs near Scooter’s locations. Marler said the sign, which will be 25 feet high, won’t get in the way of any of Scooter’s signs.
The permit was approved 4-1 with Councilman Chris Colomer voting “no” because he didn’t want to see a new sign “clutter that corner.”
Approved unanimously was a special use permit allowing a beer garden at Chevy’s Gaming Lounge, a tavern at 325 W. Fourth St.
