The Perryville City Council passed a motion to draft a noise ordinance at its meeting on Thursday.

Police Chief Parker Hatter said since the beginning of the year, several residents have made noise complaints and asked him about a noise ordinance. He said the town doesn’t have a noise ordinance, and that police respond to noise complaints on a case-by-case basis.

He said it might be easier to deal with noise complaints if they have a specific law to enforce.

“I think if we’re smart about it, I don’t think it would hurt having something on the books in my opinion,” Hatter said.

He explained that most towns with noise ordinances state that the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. are quiet hours. However, they may also want to include some restrictions on daytime noise.

“We want to accommodate people who work night shifts as well,” Hatter said.

Council members will talk with their constituents about what they think a noise ordinance should look like for the town.

The council declared an old police car as surplus. In discussing whether to sell it at public auction, electronic auction or sealed bids, council members suggested donating it to a town in western Kentucky that was ravaged by tornadoes in December 2021.

Council member Michael Lankford said he had recently visited Mayfield, and couldn’t believe the devastation.

“I could not believe how destitute those people were; I saw it and still couldn’t believe it,” Lankford said.

He suggested finding a small town that was affected that needs more police presence. He said people have come to those towns, even from different states, to loot and steal from the wreckage.

“We need money, but there are people who have greater needs than us, and having seen this, a huge problem for those towns is crime,” Lankford said.

The council passed a motion to transfer the car without compensation to another governmental agency. Hatter said he will look into finding a town affected by tornadoes that needs a police car.

Hatter gave a report of January and February numbers. In the two months, the Perryville Police Department served:
• Four vehicle accidents

• 62 traffic stops

• 11 motor assists

• Opened three criminal cases

• Three trespass orders

• Two city ordinance violations

• Started seven detective investigations

In other business:
• Mayor Carlos Miller gave an update on the walking bridge downtown, which is almost complete. He said the railing still needs to be put in, and will hopefully be done by the end of March.

• Miller is looking into having a beautification committee for Perryville, which would make reports about how to beautify the town. Miller may have his wife lead the committee, and have five other members.