Proposed changes to the Jefferson noise ordinance were met with little public comment during the City Council meeting on Monday.

The changes would include turning down the volume on mechanical sound-making devices after 11 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and after 12:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The only community members who commented on the changes were business owner Mike Carron and resident Lynn Sturkey.

Carron asked for clarity about sound levels and Sturkey said that most residents would be willing to live with the proposed changes if they are sufficiently enforced by local law enforcement officials.

The council also took issue with the Jackson County commission renaming a portion of a city road without notifying the City Council.
According to Jefferson Mayor Jim Joiner, the county renamed McClure Industrial Drive to Sealey Road in October.

“This has caused confusion for delivery trucks trying to reach (businesses) on McClure Industrial Drive because they’ve put up new signs and changed the road without notifying anyone,” Joiner said.

“We are in the process of trying to work this out.”

The meeting was held at the Jefferson Civic Center on Kissam Street.

Amie Vaughan, city finance director, also updated the group on local option sales tax revenue. According to Vaughan, LOST collections received in April were lower than those in March.

“In March, we received $56,991 but last month we only collected $45,080,” Vaughan said. “I really wasn’t expecting that drop; I thought things had evened out.”

During the meeting, the council also discussed several annexation and rezoning requests. Three of the five annexation requests were initiated by the city of Jefferson and were accompanied by a request to rezone the properties from agricultural rural farm to medium density residential.

Another request was submitted by Joseph Henry, who was seeking to have his property on Winder Highway annexed into the city, so that his daughter could continue attending school within the Jefferson system.

“This is a part of a small island of four properties on that side of the road,” said John Ward, city manager. “If his property is annexed into the city, it would eliminate a portion of the island.”

The council will vote on all agenda items during its next meeting, which has been rescheduled to May 18.