Noise
LAST THURSDAY WE SAID
that if Benjamin Franklin were living today in Plymouth, he would add sidewalk debates to his short list of life’s certainties, death and taxes.
If Poor Richard were take up residence in Elkhart Lake these days, instead of sidewalks it would be band noise that would be added to life’s certainties.
The Village Board could be excused if they thought someone hit the repeat button last Monday, as they heard from another citizen upset with excessive noise from bands playing at the village’s resorts.
It is a true conundrum. A great part of Elkhart Lake’s charm and attraction is that it is a quaint, quiet little village located on a picturesque lake.
But there are other attractions as well, such as the resorts, Road America racetrack and more, that draw people to Elkhart Lake. Among them are the entertainment choices at various venues in the village.
That is what has village officials, residents and the resorts going around and around, time and time again.
The village has adopted a noise ordinance, with exact decibel limits on allowable noise and, for the most part, it seems to work. But the police cannot be everywhere all the time to enforce it, and the same is true for management and staff at the village’s resorts and taverns.
Beyond that, the limits that may be acceptable to some often prove to be intolerable for others.
Is there a solution? Not one that will please all parties, obviously, with such a diversity of opinion and tolerance.
Yet that should not prevent village officials, tourism representatives and village residents from working together to continue to strive for a compromise, a middle ground that can please the greatest number.
The village needs to do as much as it can to ensure that reasonable rules are rigorously enforced.
The resorts and taverns need to coordinate their outdoor music events so as not to exacerbate the cacophony, and need to emphasize to their performers and staff that they must be good neighbors, living within the confines of the village, and strive to keep the noise level within acceptable limits.
And village residents need to realize that the noise some of them may find intolerable fuels another noise that keeps their village viable — the noise of cash registers ringing.
If their can be a harmony on this issue, that will be the sweetest noise of all.
At issue: Something or other Bottom line: Do something about it
