REMERTON — Guidelines for just how loud the businesses in Remerton can be could be in place by Tuesday.

On Monday the Remerton City Council will vote on a noise regulation ordinance that will set decibel parameters and outline entertainment and residential districts in the city within a city.

Remerton began as a mill town and over the years has gone through several transformations, from a business district filled with antique shops to the key entertainment area for Valdosta State University students. The close proximity of residences and businesses, many of which are restaurants and bars, have had the city looking for ways for the two to cohabitate peacefully for almost a year.

“There are pros and cons with the bars and the residents,” Lydia Day, Remerton City Councilwoman said. “This is why the noise ordinance was being put in; we’ve go to find a happy medium so the bars can succeed and the residents can live.”

The current ordinance does not dictate acceptable decibel levels, but mandates musical instruments, speakers and/or singing performed outside of a house, dwelling or business to cease at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. The noise ordinance also requires musical instruments, speakers or singing from inside or outside a house, dwelling or business shall not be audible over 100 feet in any direction from the property.

Decibel levels were measured by Atlanta firm CDAI Innovative Design Solutions and presented to the council in early January.

The study was conducted the weekend before Thanksgiving on Nov. 21-23, a day after VSU had ceased classes for the holiday.

The study measured noise at a number of positions around and between the entertainment venues and residential dwellings in the block between West Gordon Street, Baytree Place, Myrtle Street and Plum Street.

On the Saturday and Sunday the study was conducted, 32 sets of measurement data were obtained between the hours of midnight and 2:30 a.m. Measurements were taken every one-tenth of a second for six minutes.

The consultants measured the sound using frequency weighting, which filters out sound that is below the range of human hearing.

The frequency weightings used were C-Weighting (dBC) and A-Weighting (dBA). C-Weighting is commonly used in noise ordinances, more accurately representing the problem noise, while filtering very low frequency energy so it does not skew results.

The study revealed that noise does increase as the hour gets later. When the study was conducted the sound measured between 72.1 dBC and 80.1 dBC at 16 locations within Remerton.

With the results of the study the firm suggested Remerton define property line noise levels, with an entertainment district being established.

In the proposed ordinance the entertainment district is defined as the area lying within the area bounded on the north by Baytree Road, on the west by West Gordon Street, on the east by Melody Lane and which also has frontage on either Baytree Road or Baytree Place.

The ordinance stipulates that upon application the ordinance may be amended to include additional properties within the district.

Though the entertainment district is defined in the ordinance, Day said the council has yet to see a map outlining exactly what areas it covers.

She does know that the back of the entertainment district ends on the back fence of all the businesses on Plum Street.

Establishments like the Beatles House which are on Plum street will adhere to the residential noise requirements, she said.

“I am totally against the entertainment district having a higher noise level than the rest of the city,” Day said.

The bars were put in after the residences had already been established, she said.

Complaints about the noise are usually cyclical. People move in and state that the noise does not bother them and then when they leave state that they could not sleep or study because of the noise, she said.

“A lot come here because they can walk to the bars instead of driving,” Day said. “It keeps them from DUIs; it keeps them safe.”

With the ordinance, unlawful noise emanating from the entertainment district or the residential district can be measured using dBA or dBC sound measurement.

For dBA, the sound cannot exceed 65; for dBC, the sound can not exceed 75 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. After 2 a.m. the sound is required to drop.

In the residential district sound cannot exceed 55 for dBA and for dBC cannot exceed 65 between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Per the ordinance, sound measurements will be conducted at the property line of the property from which the sound originates. All measurements shall be made on a sound level meter calibrated within the manufacturer’s specifications and taking into account all outside noise unrelated to the originating property.

Sound will be measured for five minutes.

The person administrating sound measurements will be a noise control administrator who will be the police chief or another designee.

Day said the residents and business owners should be notified if the ordinance is passed on Monday.

Businesses could get a phone call or a flyer outlining the ordinance and residences will probably get a flyer, she said.

If the ordinance is passed, the Remerton Police Department will be tasked with enforcing it, she said.

The department has received training with the noise meter.

The first time a business or residence is found in violation of the ordinance they are given a warning, she said.

When a warning is issued the level of noise is written on the citation and the noise must reduced within five minutes of the warning being issued.

Each re-measurement that exceeds the maximum level outlined in the ordinance is considered a separate violation, she said.

The noise meter also has the capability of recording the sound when it is measured.

The penalties for violating the ordinance will become stiffer after the first warning.

Remerton City Council will meet Monday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m. at Remerton City Hall. In addition to the noise ordinance, the council will discuss and vote on the millage rate.