By By Mary-Allison Lancaster, Managing editor
The chimes at the East Brewton Methodist Church are causing headaches for some local residents and one particular person asked the City Council to find a way to alleviate the noise.
David F. Elliott, who lives on the corner of Shofner Street and Dailey Street, told council members he could sit in his living room with the television volume up pretty loud, and he could still hear the chimes.
The chimes, which play through an electronic device, can be programmed for years in advance, Elliott said. It is driven off of a CD and operates at approximately 400 to 800 watts, he said.
Elliott told council members that he purchased a recording device from Radio Shack and it recorded the chimes at almost 83 decibels.
The chimes ring out throughout the city of East Brewton from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week and once on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Elliott said that after reviewing the city's noise ordinance, the chimes at the church falls under the stipulations, which resulted in numerous complaints filed by Elliott and other perturbed residents.
Found in section two of the city's noise ordinance, it states that "it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to play, use, operate or permit to be played…any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device