CAREFREE
– A Carefree Town Council discussion over
efforts to abate motorcycle noise generated
noise of its own, when one councilman called
another a “jerk.”
During
the Dec. 5 council meeting, immediately after
a resident criticized council’s handling of
the issue, Councilmen Bob Coady and Gary Hayward
got into a brief but intense shouting match.
The
disgruntled resident walked out without waiting
to hear the council’s response. At that moment
Hayward asked Coady if he had any prior discussions
on the matter with that resident.
Coady
refused to answer, saying: “I’m tired of this
council treating me as an outsider.”
A
visibly angered Hayward replied, “This council
is tired of you making comments in the newspaper,
calling us dumb, stupid or knee‑jerk.
The only jerk I see around here is you.”
In
an equally heated retort, Coady snapped back,
“At least I have the guts to speak what’s
on my mind.”
At
issue has been the town’s efforts to get motorcycle
enthusiasts to tone it down when cruising
through the community. In late November, Carefree
put up signs announcing an 80‑decibel
limit and “Up to $750 fine.”
On
Dec. 2, the town held a demonstration outside
a popular Cave Creek bar and grill to educate
bikers about acceptable noise levels.
Carefree’s
noise ordinance, adopted in 2002, set the
maximum limit at 85 decibels measured at a
distance of 25 feet or 80 decibels measured
at 50 feet. Bikers who fail to heed the town’s
restrictions can be fined not more than $175
for a first offense, $350 for a second offense
or $2,500 for a third.
News
of the town’s noise limit and its impact among
motorcycle riders has garnered national headlines.
The
tipping point for the Coady‑Hayward
clash at the council meeting started when
Coady questioned the legitimacy of the posted
80‑decibel limit.
He
specifically questioned who authorized the
signs be posted, the decibel level lowered
and the fines raised.
“The
thing that concerns me the most are the rights
of some people being attacked ... I don’t
think this should have been done without the
approval of council,” Coady stated.
Mayor
Ed Morgan said the town’s new decibel limit
is not unfair to bikers and has widespread
support among top motorcycle manufacturers,
residents, and bikers from other states, as
well as those in the community.
“We
are not out to give tickets. We are not out
to make enemies. We’re doing it for our citizens
who, for two years, have asked for action,”
Morgan said.
In
other news, the council by a unanimous vote
approved a measure allowing a cellular phone
company to erect three antennas, to be shielded
from view, on the roof of Spirit of the Desert
Lutheran Retreat Center, 7415 E. Elbow Bend
Road.
Lastly,
council unanimously approved spending $6,000
to install two 18‑foot outdoor lights
near the amphitheater in the town center.
The lights are part of a pilot project to
determine what type of lighting should be
installed throughout the town center in the
future.
