disturbing the peace

A couple of weeks ago, a big Dept. of Water Management excavation project started near my house. The intersection of 97th and Seeley is now a huge crater. In the big picture, modernization of  our water and sewer systems is a good thing, but it should not penalize the health of people who live near the project area.

Our noise ordinance exists for a reason. People need to get rest, and get relief from all the noise they face during the day. Some of us deal with a LOT of noise. That takes a toll on our health. Facing 1.5 hours more of stressful noise each day is NOT what most of us need.

One day last week the crew started the noisy work shortly after 6:30 a.m., well before the 8 a.m. allowed start under the noise ordinance. Today they fired up the engine on the big excavator at 6:15 a.m. The backup beeps, yelling conversations and clank of steel plates being moved started a few minutes later.

I called in a noise complaint to police. About 10 minutes later, there was a 5 minute pause when I didn't hear anything except engines idling, then they went back to their loud work. It's now 6:45 and they're getting louder. At 7:00 am they started with the concrete saw. I'll be calling the alderman's office again today, and again tomorrow and the next day and the next if they continue to start this early. Starting that kind of work so early in the day is disturbing the peace, plain and simple.