Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston Council adopts noise ordinance

Things could be a lot quieter in Rosston in the near future.

The Rosston City Council, at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Oct. 6, passed a noise ordinance for the community.

Rosston Mayor Lewis Jackson said there had been "a lot of complaints" on loud noise and people wanted something done about it. He called the attorney for the Arkansas Municipal League, who, in turn, sent him a copy of a noise ordinance adopted by the Lake Village City Council.

When members of the council asked if deputies with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office couldn't do anything, Jackson said they were powerless without an ordinance in effect.

The council discussed whether there should be specific times involved for when the ordinance was in effect, but, in the end, decided it would be in effect 24-hours-a-day.

The ordinance is for loud and raucous noises, and includes horns, signaling devices, radios, tape players, compact disc players and other things that can be amplified to "produce or reproduce sound in a prolonged, unusual or unnatural manner as to disturb the peace, quite and comfort fo the neighboring inhabitants"

It further states, "The operation of any such radio, tape player or compact disc player or device in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the building, structure or vehicle in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this ordinance."

Those who are caught violating the ordinance can be fined up to $100, or imprisoned no more than three days, or both.

Jackson said the city received three resumes for the part-time water position. Those applying were: Al Martindale of Prescott, Hall Coleman of Rosston, and Jason Jackson, also of Rosston.

Jackson will interview all three and hire one to help Rosston Water Superintendent J.D. Luck. Whoever is hired will learn to read meters, do billing and work toward becoming certified, so they can take over when Luck is on vacation.

The council also passed an ordinance for the city's 5 mill tax. This is not a new tax, but something the city's government must approve each year in order to continue receiving tax money from the county.

Jackson pointed out it will not raise anyone's taxes in the least.