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NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Commission was approached, Thursday, by a resident expressing concern over the lack of any kind of noise regulations in the county.
William Loth asked whether the commission had been able to find any way to establish regulations concerning loud noises after hours. The commission had been approached by another resident last fall with a similar request.
"I'm pleading to get some clarification," Loth said.
Loth described what he said were a couple of instances in which neighbors allegedly were playing loud music late at night. Loth said he had contacted law enforcement, but was told no action could be taken as there currently is no county or state law concerning loud noise.
Loth also said law enforcement was called on him in one instance, supposedly over his playing music during the day, explaining there now is a protective order filed against him over the matter.
Commission President Jeff Davis noted county officials have looked into the issue numerous times, including as recently as two weeks ago, and have consulted with members of the West Virginia Legislature as well.
He said there are variables in crafting such a law, including deciding appropriate levels of noise, as well as how it is to be measured, explaining what could be considered loud to one person might not be to another.
"It's so difficult to do without clamping down on each and every person," Davis said. "We continue to look at it, and we don't have an answer."
Commissioner Eron Chek agreed.
"We've done a lot of digging," she said of the commission's effort on the issue.
Chek also thanked Loth for bringing his questions forward, saying, while the commissioners have been looking into the possibility of noise regulations, they haven't had a chance to address the issue publicly.
In other business before them Thursday, commissioners:
Approved a $1,000 contribution to the Newell Community Improvement Coalition Inc. in support of the organization's summer concert series at Laurel Hollow Park in Newell;
Continued to table an amendment to Section A: Salary and Wage Administration in the county's employee handbook;
Tabled a proposal to verify county assets for insurance renewal under WV Corp., with Chek noting various county departments are conducting an inventory of assets to make certain what the county owns;
Agreed to advertise for a position on the Tomlinson Public Service District Board. The term of the current board member ends June 30;
Agreed to advertise for two positions on the Hancock County Board of Health, with current terms set to end June 30. It was noted one seat represents the Clay District, and one represents the Grant District;
Agreed to accept the resignation of Ontasia Petteway as an accounts payable clerk in the County Clerk's Office, effective Saturday, and to hire Petteway as office administrator in the County Commission Office, to be effective Sunday;
Adopted a resolution to continue participating in the Northern Panhandle HOME Consortium for fiscal year 2023;
Adopted a proclamation designating April 9-15 as National Publi Safety Telcommunicators Week;
Agreed to hire Kayla Weaver as a deputy clerk for the Records Department in the County Clerk's Office, effective Sunday;
Agreed to advertise for a deputy clerk in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office;
Agreed to hire Jay Williams as security/bailiff, effective April 1, under the Sheriff's Department;
Agreed to accept the retirement of Tina M. Crawford as chief tax deputy in the Sheriff's Department, effective April 28, and to pay Crawford for accrued personal and vacation pay.
The commission also received reports from Zachary White, of the West Virginia University Extension Office, and Capt. Gene Hunt representing the Hancock County Senior Center.