2008 Woodie Awards
A "fair" argument
Gagnon, Jessica
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Recently, there have been complaints and suggestions to move the Sheboygan County fair grounds due to the noise. The neighbors of the fairgrounds feel that the various dirt track races held on the fairgrounds cause far too much noise, and they feel they should be moved to a place where they would be less disruptive.
That is a fair argument; however, the fairgrounds have been at their current location for approximately 109 years. The 23-acre grounds were purchased in 1897 by the Sheboygan County Agricultural Association who wanted a site for a permanent fairground location. The cow and pig barns are actually historical buildings, since they are the original ones built on the grounds. I have a feeling that very few of the individuals that are currently living near the grounds were there when they were purchased.
To have a complaint about noise from the fairgrounds, when you chose to move next to them, is ridiculous. It would be like moving next to an airport and complaining about airplanes flying over your house. The fairgrounds would be an obvious aspect of the neighborhood, being 23-acres, and noise generally comes along with fairs.
As for the racing aspect, the sound ordinances are put into place and enforced. According to a Title 11, Plymouth City ordinance, section 11-2-7, businesses may use amplifiers after 9am and until 11p.m. Thus, the races are done no later than 11p.m. In addition, the city of Plymouth has put into place very specific laws about all-terrain vehicles as defined in Title 10, Chapters 3 and 4. The regulations allow for an exception of specific outlined parks and areas where all terrain vehicles are allowed, including the fairgrounds' arena.
It would be absolutely unreasonable to move the fairgrounds because individuals who moved next to it are complaining about the noise. To move them would just cause some other individual, who did not move next to fairgrounds initially, very unhappy. Leave the fair where it is, it really was there first.
That is a fair argument; however, the fairgrounds have been at their current location for approximately 109 years. The 23-acre grounds were purchased in 1897 by the Sheboygan County Agricultural Association who wanted a site for a permanent fairground location. The cow and pig barns are actually historical buildings, since they are the original ones built on the grounds. I have a feeling that very few of the individuals that are currently living near the grounds were there when they were purchased.
To have a complaint about noise from the fairgrounds, when you chose to move next to them, is ridiculous. It would be like moving next to an airport and complaining about airplanes flying over your house. The fairgrounds would be an obvious aspect of the neighborhood, being 23-acres, and noise generally comes along with fairs.
As for the racing aspect, the sound ordinances are put into place and enforced. According to a Title 11, Plymouth City ordinance, section 11-2-7, businesses may use amplifiers after 9am and until 11p.m. Thus, the races are done no later than 11p.m. In addition, the city of Plymouth has put into place very specific laws about all-terrain vehicles as defined in Title 10, Chapters 3 and 4. The regulations allow for an exception of specific outlined parks and areas where all terrain vehicles are allowed, including the fairgrounds' arena.
It would be absolutely unreasonable to move the fairgrounds because individuals who moved next to it are complaining about the noise. To move them would just cause some other individual, who did not move next to fairgrounds initially, very unhappy. Leave the fair where it is, it really was there first.
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