St. Charles OKs new silent nights

Don't blame the economy for the hush falling on downtown St. Charles starting today, but a new noise law targeted mainly at creating a more harmonious balance between bustling businesses and residents trying to sleep or enjoy the tranquillity of their neighborhood.

The St. Charles City Council put a quiet stamp of approval on the new noise laws Monday night with a vote that featured no debate and only one "no" vote.

First Ward Alderman Ron Silkaitis cast the lone "no" vote. He explained his opposition in committee back in August when he said it simply didn't make sense to create a law that caters to homeowners who live in commercial areas.

"If (the businesses) were there first and people move around them knowing it's a business, I have a problem telling them what time they can do deliveries," Silkaitis said in August. "You can work with them, talk to them, but to force them to do it, I have a problem with that."

Indeed, the new law does exactly that by putting limitations on the times maintenance, construction, trash pickup and other business functions can occur in the city. Businesses and homeowners who enjoy mowing their lawns at the crack of dawn may be fined if they don't study up on the new law and adjust their habits starting today.

The law leaves the determination of what is excessive noise to the discretion of police officers in the field and certain activity that occurs during prohibited hours.

For instance, there can be no lawn mowing from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. in a residential area; there can be no construction activity in the mixed-use/downtown area from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and there can be no truck deliveries to businesses that abut a residence from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A first violation could result in a $50 fine. Subsequent violations get costlier all the way up to $500 for the fifth and any additional violation within one year of the first offense.

Second Ward Alderman Cliff Carrignan chaired the committee that did most of the crafting of the new laws. After voting for passage on Monday, Carrignan said the new laws just make sense as the city reconfigures the downtown to include more residential spaces as First Street continues to redevelop. The laws are the best way to make the existing and future businesses coexist in peace with the future downtown residents.