The Fayette County Commission may consider amending its noise ordinance to allow a resident’s request for his children to ride dirt bikes on a track they built on their property.

But that possibility resulted in the commission getting an earful Thursday night after they discussed the matter. Several residents who live near the track on Lyn Loveless’ property said the current noise ordinance, which allows noise to be no louder than 55 decibels, has preserved peace and quiet in their neighborhood.

Several of Loveless’ neighbors who live near his Arnold Road home said before the noise ordinance changed in 2005 dirt bikes would be running on his property for up to seven or eight hours at a time, and sometimes six or seven days a week.

The ordinance has restored peace and quiet to the area, neighbors reported, and some said they worried any change to the ordinance might threaten that achievement.

On the flip side of the coin is young dirt biker Tyler Loveless, who told the commission that riding his dirt bike, and competing in events such as the national championship, is his life. He asked the commission for the opportunity to ride his bike on the track in his backyard.

Commissioner Eric Maxwell asked if there was any way the neighbors would be amenable to creating a window of time in which the dirt bikes could be used several days a week for say two hours at a time. Neighbor Bob Cook, who was at the podium at the time, said he didn’t want to speak for all the other people in the audience.

Another resident, Eddie Baldwin, said he didn’t live near Loveless’ dirt bike track but he worried that if the commission changed the noise ordinance his neighbor could install one and use it.

Chief Marshal Ed Collins told the commission that the current system's decibel limit is good because it gives a measurable way to determine what is and isn't a noise violation. It also has led to some people asking the marshals to come out to test the sound levels of certain activities before they do them.

The current ordinance allows people to apply for special permits to go over the 55 decibel limit, but those permits only last for 15 straight days. The permits can be extended for another 15-day period, Collins explained.

Acting county administrator Jack Krakeel suggested allowing the county staff to craft possible changes to the ordinance before they consider it at a later date.

Collins recommended changing the decibel measuring place from the property line of the person receiving the sound to the area of their property where people congregate such as the home, a deck, patio, pool or similar area. He also recommended having the noise permits issued by county staff instead of the county commission.

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