As long as there have been homes abutting the business community, there have been random complaints about noise.

It’s inevitable that at some point, a business is going to generate the type of noise that a homeowner finds offensive, especially in the summer months when the bedroom windows are cracked and the still of the night is interrupted by the yelp of late night merriment or the bark of a trucker making a delivery.

The city of Waconia has a noise ordinance, as do most cities, but a few months ago it examined the possibility of stepping it up to the next level, using sound decibel meters to detect noise levels that exceed state standards.

Although it had generally agreed that noise related to vehicles was a target, it wanted to see if noise as a result of late night business was also a concern.

The down shifting by truckers has been cited as an issue in recent years and it will be monitored and enforced. It, along with loud mufflers or excessive noise from car stereos seem to be the most common forms of noise emanating from vehicles.

But a few months ago the city, wanting to respond to general concerns about noise in the downtown area, embarked on a mission to measure noise levels and determine if a stiffer ordinance was necessary.

What it discovered was noise levels in some areas of downtown are already approaching or in some cases exceeding levels established by the state’s Pollution Control Agency (PCA).

The city performed testing with its own decibel meter on July 17 between 2 and 3:15 p.m. Some of the noisiest corners in town are located at Olive and First Street, where decibel readings were recorded at 65 to 75 decibels for various intervals during that 75 minute time frame. For that area of town, readings exceed the Minnesota PCA guidelines for noise pollution. Another high noise area included Olive Street between Lake and Main where readings of 71-78 decibels were recorded.

A 707 jet creates 120 decibels of sound at takeoff, if standing directly behind it. Inside the coach section of a typical jet, meters register noise at 82 decibels. Normal conversation would typically generate 60 decibels of noise. The average radio or vacuum cleaner creates 75 decibels of noise.

Council members last week said they were not necessarily interested in pursuing a more stringent noise ordinance as it relates to general noise in a downtown if decibel readings are already at this level.

They cited concerns about enforcement and the ability to consistently monitor all of the areas of town where noise levels might exceed state standards.

What the city will likely come back with is a modification to its existing ordinance that focuses more on vehicle noise. City planner John Hilgers is expected to present an updated proposal at an August council meeting. “The city cannot approve a noise ordinance that is less restrictive than the state’s,” said City Administrator Susan Arntz.

The city could take action on the issue during an August meeting.