Collegio Online

Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Rebecca Bauman

Rural Mulberry residents are battling the bands that perform at Foxtown City Limits.

According to a recent Morning Sun article, area residents Mark Kassler and Grant Reed recently approached the Crawford County Commission in the hopes of curbing what they perceived as disruptive noise resulting from Foxtown's outdoor concerts.
"I've lived here for several years and have dealt with the noise and the profanity (in much of the music's lyric content) at Foxtown," Reed was quoted as saying in the Morning Sun. "I don't believe it's lawful to interfere with our enjoyment of our property."

At a Crawford County Commission meeting on Friday, April 11, Reed read aloud a letter he said he wrote on Oct. 16, 2007, inspired by a "disturbing" concert he had overheard the previous night.
"There was profanity" in the lyrics, Reed said. "The f-word was coming through my house."

The Morning Sun went on to point out that Crawford County does not carry a noise ordinance that would permit Kasslar or Reed to take legal action against the owners of Foxtown. Although citations based on disturbing the peace statutes, which include subsections on the use of profanity, can be issued in such cases, Sheriff Sandy Horton and other commissioners agreed that a compromise between the Foxtown management and nearby residents would be ideal.

I have been an avid fan of several local bands throughout high school, all of whom played shows at Foxtown. Without this venue, many local bands would go unheard. I can't think of too many buildings or other outdoor locations that advocate and support local music to the extent that Foxtown City Limits has over the years. It is a clean, welcoming outdoor environment, so much so, in fact, that I even brought my sister and nephew to a show.

I don't see a problem with establishing a noise ordinance if neighbors feel their privacy and enjoyment of their property is being disturbed. I believe that shows could potentially begin earlier in the evening and end by 9 or 10 p.m. and remain within a reasonable volume, as suggested by the county commission.

As for profanity, I haven't witnessed anything more disturbing than what can be found in the conversations and rude comments on any television station.

There have been few bands that have been intolerable for their style, even though, according to the Morning Sun, Commissioner Ralph McGeorge said one recording of a Foxtown performance sounded like "a dog fight."

Continued...

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