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Can St. Charles do anything about O'Hare jet noise?

St. Charles aldermen first contemplated taking on O'Hare International Airport in summer of 2015 when a single resident pleaded with them to do something to muffle the roar of jets flying over the city.

On Monday, aldermen learned that resident is no longer alone in that concern, but they're not sure if they can do anything about it.

The city logged a total of seven different resident complaints about airplane noise since July 2015, when the issue first came to aldermen's attention. Most residents are either using the official airport noise complaint number or website to log their objections to the noise generated by additional runways and ongoing runway configuration testing. City staff members said nine residents alone logged 571 noise complaints this May, the high water mark for airplane angst so far.

Alderman Rita Payleitner grew up near Midway Airport, numbing her a bit to sound of jet engines. But she's paid special attention to the noise for the past year. Having witnessed the planes, and heard the noise, in her own backyard, she said she understands why some residents are upset about losing some of the relative quiet they had compared to communities closer to O'Hare.

“I'm thrilled that the citizens concerns were heard and addressed, and we directed them to how they could complain to the airport directly,” Payleitner said. “But I'm guessing that's all we can do right now, unless it becomes more of an issue.”

Alderman Bill Turner said he takes some comfort in recent discussions Batavia and Geneva have also had about O'Hare noise. That indicates there are potential partners if the noise becomes a regional issue.

But Geneva officials declined a push to send an official proclamation condemning the O'Hare noise just two weeks ago.

“The reality is the reconfiguration of the runways is a six-month test that runs through December,” said Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns at that meeting. “After that, they will assign (runways) based on safety. I am completely opposed to passing a resolution that, in all purposes, is not worth the paper it's written on.”

Burns said communities closer to the airport have dealt with much more noise, for a much longer time, without seeing much relief resulting for their own complaints.

“We are all now participating in the quintessential let's-share-the-pain program,” Burns said.

Residents of either St. Charles or Geneva can direct noise complaints to the O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission's website at www.oharenoise.org or by calling the noise hotline at 1-800-435-9569.

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