Plan for updating noise ordinance advances

OFF THE WIRE
Biker Rights Issues
By LINDA N. WELLER
The Telegraph
ALTON Illinois- Aldermen gave first-round approval Wednesday night to a plan to quiet the city's noise.
The resolution allows the corporation counselor to draft an addition to city ordinance for noise abatement, including restrictions on any "loud of raucous noise" from motorcycles, animals, bells, stereos, non-emergency sirens, radios, musical instruments, and shouting and public address systems, among others.
Corporation Counselor Jim Schrempf already has compiled an 11-page ordinance, which will come back to the council for vote in ordinance form. A motorcycle rights and safety promotion group, ABATE of Illinois (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education), is paying for reminder signs for motorcyclists to tone down noise from their bikes.
The "When in Town, Keep it Down" signs will go up at entrances to the city and along streets that motorcyclists frequent after the ordinance becomes law in coming months.
Aldermen also unanimously agreed to accept the following bids from Midwest Service Group of St. Peters, Mo., to remove asbestos from two buildings before they are demolished - 1010 E. Fourth St. ($1,650), and 2438 Johnson St. ($6,650).
At the end of the meeting, 6th Ward Alderman Gary Fleming commended Alton Fire Fighters Local 1255 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 525 for agreeing to forgo members' raises that would go into effect April 1.
Mayor Tom Hoechst had asked all the city's bargaining units to not take pay raises contained in the last year of their contracts in light of dire city finances. In return, he said he would not lay off workers in the unions that agreed to the pay freezes.
Fleming, a retired Alton police officer, then criticized the Alton Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 14's two units for rejecting Hoechst's proposal.
"I am ashamed and embarrassed that the voting members of the Alton PBPA Unit 14 did not do the same," Fleming said. "They do not have to live here, shop or pay taxes here. The Police Benevolent has failed in this matter."
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3388 also voted against Hoechst's proposal.
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