Posted: 7/16/03

Noise petitions go to FL Council

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Noise again was a hot issue at the Forest Lake City Council meeting Monday night.

Residents who live near Willows on the Water again came to the council to complain about noise generated from outdoor bands at the longtime bar and restaurant facility located on the shores of Third Lake.

This time, they brought a petition asking for noise limits concerning Willows on the Water, recommending bands only be able to play on the day of a major holiday, only until 9 p.m. and that noise limits be monitored by the police department.

ìOur ultimate request to the city council is no outdoor music,î Darlene Koalski, a neighborhood resident who submitted the petition, said.

She said the only way residents can help with problems is by calling the police.

ìThis is pretty annoying to someone that takes care of their property and wants to enjoy it,î Koalski said. ìI think it is important for all residents to know they can call the police.î

The Forest Lake woman said the outdoor music is tarnishing her opinion of Willows on the Water.

ìResidents here absolutely think Willows on the Water is a wonderful place, it would be a wonderful place for a supper club, but the noise has got to go. Itís getting to the point where the neighbors are so upset theyíre not patronizing the place,î she said.

While Koalski and her neighbors brought in one petition, Kevin Tacheny, owner of Willows on the Water, brought in another.

Tachenyís petition was in support of outdoor music at Willows on the Water.

The police department has ordered a decibel meter to monitor the noise levels when complaints come in. A recent action by the city council took the noise ordinance active in the former city of Forest Lake and expanded it to cover the entire city.

Councilwoman Susan Young suggested those in violation of the noise ordinance be fined on an escalating scale. The more times the ordinance is violated, the higher the fine.

ìIn that way, you have a mechanism for using an economic incentive for making sure there is compliance,î Young said.

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