Noise Ordinance Fails In Fentress County Commission Vote

A motion to create a plan for a noise ordinance in Fentress County failed during voting at the County Commission’s recessed meeting Thursday night.

County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the discussion was brought up after several recent events at the Catoosa Event Center drew community concerns. With one commissioner absent and a need for a two-thirds majority, the vote failed 5-4.

“The broadness of it was one thing with it telling who could do one thing, who could do another, someone could do this, others couldn’t,” Johnson said. “And that there is why I would say, possibly, the reason that it didn’t pass.”

Johnson said there is a possibility for more discussion to be had in the future. He said there is a need to balance community wants and the needs of those hosting events.

Johnson said the Catoosa Event Center is already working to solidify a noise policy to avoid any future issues.

“Hopefully that will work, and if not, I’m sure it will come back to the commission to continue to look for a solution,” Johnson said.

He said the county commission is meeting with the center’s officials on Monday to hopefully find a middle ground. According to Johnson, there are no major events in the near future, so they hope to finalize everything before the next scheduled event.