LEWISTOWN —
A potential noise control ordinance spurred eight speakers to address a
standing-room-only crowd of bikers and bureaucrats at Tuesday's Fulton County
Board meeting.
Starting with board member John Taylor, who said he has dealt with excessive noise from motorcycles at his own rural home, they weighed the protection that regulations could offer homeowners against the threat to biker freedom. Taylor said the noise near his home is "beyond belief." But when he calls county police, he is told there is nothing to be done.
"Find a place away from the public. Ride all you want. I'm for you," Taylor said. "Don't disturb me and I won't disturb you."
Apparently, however, motorcycle riders think they have found a place away from the public by using tracks in Fulton County.
"I found a place to ride. I built something," said Knute Miller, adding he meets the existing laws. "We can't be stopped. There's too many of us."
And that's the problem, according to Dave Monnair, who said he moved to Dickson Mounds Road to have an "idyllic" retirement home, two years before Miller built his track.
Fulton County State's Attorney John Clark has been "a little less than exuberant on our behalf," according to Monnair. A new law might help stir action, because it's difficult to hire a private attorney on a fixed income.
"One person's pleasure might be another person's pain," Monnair said.
John Harris of East Peoria said he is the ABATE motorcycle education group's legal representative. He said the organization seeks solutions by working cooperatively, rather than setting up wide-ranging rules which could end up with unintended consequences for all bikers.
"You pass a noise ordinance here, it could spread like wildfire," he said. "There's other ways."
Nevertheless, board members voted 16-4 to have Clark investigate a potential noise ordinance. Andy Andrews, Terry Pigg, Doug Manock and Larry Taff voted against the motion. Del Parson was absent.
State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, took a tongue-in-cheek approach to the crowded quarters by thanking everyone for the turnout. But he said he was serious in thanking the board for its patience as he sought funds to improve Fulton County's dental clinic. He said Gov. Pat Quinn's office has approved $400,000 for Koehler to help the clinic, with another $50,000 coming at the request of state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville.
"We're going to get you a check," he said. "I don't have it with me, but it's almost in the mail."
Board Chairman George Hall said more than 6,100 patients have received services since the clinic opened in May 2009. Almost 30,000 services have been provided for people who had little access, because there was no dentist in Fulton County who would take Medicaid patients.
"Some people didn't think we'd get this done," Hall said. "But we did."
Terry Bibo can be reached at terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com or 686-3114.
Starting with board member John Taylor, who said he has dealt with excessive noise from motorcycles at his own rural home, they weighed the protection that regulations could offer homeowners against the threat to biker freedom. Taylor said the noise near his home is "beyond belief." But when he calls county police, he is told there is nothing to be done.
"Find a place away from the public. Ride all you want. I'm for you," Taylor said. "Don't disturb me and I won't disturb you."
Apparently, however, motorcycle riders think they have found a place away from the public by using tracks in Fulton County.
"I found a place to ride. I built something," said Knute Miller, adding he meets the existing laws. "We can't be stopped. There's too many of us."
And that's the problem, according to Dave Monnair, who said he moved to Dickson Mounds Road to have an "idyllic" retirement home, two years before Miller built his track.
Fulton County State's Attorney John Clark has been "a little less than exuberant on our behalf," according to Monnair. A new law might help stir action, because it's difficult to hire a private attorney on a fixed income.
"One person's pleasure might be another person's pain," Monnair said.
John Harris of East Peoria said he is the ABATE motorcycle education group's legal representative. He said the organization seeks solutions by working cooperatively, rather than setting up wide-ranging rules which could end up with unintended consequences for all bikers.
"You pass a noise ordinance here, it could spread like wildfire," he said. "There's other ways."
Nevertheless, board members voted 16-4 to have Clark investigate a potential noise ordinance. Andy Andrews, Terry Pigg, Doug Manock and Larry Taff voted against the motion. Del Parson was absent.
State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, took a tongue-in-cheek approach to the crowded quarters by thanking everyone for the turnout. But he said he was serious in thanking the board for its patience as he sought funds to improve Fulton County's dental clinic. He said Gov. Pat Quinn's office has approved $400,000 for Koehler to help the clinic, with another $50,000 coming at the request of state Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville.
"We're going to get you a check," he said. "I don't have it with me, but it's almost in the mail."
Board Chairman George Hall said more than 6,100 patients have received services since the clinic opened in May 2009. Almost 30,000 services have been provided for people who had little access, because there was no dentist in Fulton County who would take Medicaid patients.
"Some people didn't think we'd get this done," Hall said. "But we did."
Terry Bibo can be reached at terry.bibo.freelance@gmail.com or 686-3114.