KRYSTIN KASAK

Times Staff Writer

In a quest to determine when noise is too noisy, a Porter County council is set to measure the actual loudness - in decibels - of all-terrain vehicles.

The Commissioners' Noise Ordinance Advisory Committee held its first meeting Monday regarding the continuing dispute. The issue arose earlier this month after commissioners received calls from neighbors of ATV tracks complaining about the noise and dust.

The council, which includes both owners and neighbors of bike tracks, opened discussion Monday by asking how they can create an agreement that is enforceable, agreeable and practical.

"We need to come up with something that is enforceable by members of this department," said Porter County Sheriff Dave Lain, who facilitated the meeting. "It needs to be something that an officer on the street can act upon."

The council discussed the possibility of a noise ordinance, asking questions regarding how noise would be measured, by whom and when. The group also looked at a suggested ordinance from the American Motorcyclist Association.

The AMA recommendation includes limiting noise levels to 70 decibels on average. According to most organizations, normal conversation with an individual three to five feet away typically measures 60 to 70 decibels.

One of the council's suggestions was to measure the decibel level from the edge of the track owner's property. This would ensure that neighboring citizens are not burdened with excessive noise. The group also discussed possible remedies for tracks that wouldn't meet required sound limits.

"We should look at how far back a track would have to be for the noise levels to be tolerable," said Susan Thode, a mother of a motocross rider.

The group will conduct a fact-finding session later this week.

"It's too early to reach an accord," Lain said. "But we did reach a dialogue, which is the first step in solving most problems. I have a very positive feeling about this."