CAIRO — On March 27, the Cairo City Council heard from Erica Hunter on the importance of Holder Park and approved a new noise ordinance for the local area during their regular council meeting.

After approving the agenda, the council first heard from Erica Hunter, a Cairo local, that came to speak on the importance of Holder Park and the existing pool on the property.

“I wanted to stress the importance of both the park and pool to the Mayor and ask that, if you all, would please assist in making a large investment in that area,” Hunter said. “That pool is not a money maker, but it turns it into an intangible asset, because there are so many opportunities that could come out of that.”

Additionally, the council approved special permits for local events, including Arnold Gonzales’ Walking to the Cross! event, a basketball tournament at Holder Park presented by Franklin Rashad Brinson and an easter egg hunt at Azalea Park presented by Lee Von Lurry.

The council also approved Alcoholic Beverage License Renewals for 2023, approved a business license for Jovita Jones and Affordable Taxi, LLC, and approved the purchase of a building department vehicle for $29,627.

After which, they considered the business of the new noise ordinance for the city of Cairo, with Mayor Booker Gainor expressing hesitance in regard to pursuing such a restrictive measure versus diplomacy with homeowners after recent complaints regarding noise made by a motocross bike.

“I just see it as being restrictive,” he said. “I respect the decision that you guys make, I try to be a law-abiding citizen as much as I can, but I still feel as though this ordinance goes a little too far, this incident has provoked the full wrath of the council.”

According to City Clerk Dana Barfield, the motion to approve the ordinance was made by Jimmy Douglas and was seconded by Bobby Gwaltney. Jerry Cox and Lannis Thornton voted in favor, with Demario Byrden voting against it.

According to the ordinance, the definition of “plainly audible” is any sound emanating from specific sound-producing sources set by the document, including mechanical sound-making devices, human-produced sounds, commercial advertising, party noise and equipment noise.

“Measurement shall be by the auditory senses of a person standing at a distance no less than the required minimum distance from the source of the sound,” the ordinance states. “For music and other noise, words and phrases need not be discernible. For music and other noise, bass reverberations are included.”

From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., the minimum distance is 300 ft. from “the source of the sound cast upon the public streets or other public property or from the building, structure, vehicle, or in the case of real property, beyond the property limits, in which it is located, whichever is farthest.”

From 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., the minimum distance is reduced to 100 ft.

More specific restrictions exist within the ordinance in regard to noise produced by consumer fireworks on all days and defining noise restrictions for areas within apartments, condominiums, townhouses, duplexes and similar residential units.

Exceptions in the ordinance include noises and sounds made during the normal course of business by manufacturing, governmental or commercial entities, official public school events and other permitted events.

Subsection 9 of the noise ordinance establishes restrictions regarding noise from animals, making it unlawful to “possess an animal that shall disturb the peace of another by local persistent barking, howling, growling, yelping, calling, crowing or whining.”

The subsection, however, also includes restrictions of being issued citations for violating this aspect of the ordinance that includes requiring two unrelated complaining witnesses from different households that have submitted written statements regarding the offense.