Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Sperry Rep and Residents address council over noise - 2/13/1984Over noise problem - -
Eagan
You r
Community
Newspgiper
Residents, Sherry rep address council
By JEFF BURRILL
Approximately 60 residents of
the Timberline area attended the
• t Eag.-.,(n.
meeting to re- express their con-
cern about noise coming from the
Sperry Corp. plant, which is
located in the vicinity of their
neighborhood.
The residents' accusations
were fielded by Sperry Corp.
representative Ed Michaud, who
explained a noise pollution plan
which had already been
presented to and approved by the
Timberline residents. However,
it seems the residents harbor
doubts as to the effectiveness of
the Sperry plan and wanted the
council to add to its previously
designated support of the
11f fib( ;i ii:'t: b grdk)a } : .., 13
blem.
John Gustin, president of the
Timberline Civic Association
(TCA), addressed the council
first, speaking on behalf of the
Timberline residents.
"We feel the issue is that of
safety and property at the com-
pany (Sperry) located next to
us," Gustin stated. "It was dur-
ing the summer of 1981 that
Sperry began to develop the pro-
perty where its Eagan -based
semiconductor facilty is now
DON GIBLIN spoke his piece at the Eagan council
meeting, stressing the fact that noise coming from the
Sperry semiconductor plant causes him to get na
more than two to three hours of sleep at one time.
located. This construction and
development work resulted in
dust and dirt being constantly
Our houses were covered with
dirt and we had to constantly
wash our windows and do
dry cleaning. "
"The noise started in July of
1983, coming from blowers, roof
fans and other mechanical equip-
ment. And the lights from the
parking lot shine into many of our
windows. We would like the coun-
cil to further investigate the noise
problem -which is literally keep-
ing residents awake at night -and
the lighting problem. We want a
temporary solution to the
problem -as well as a long range
one -as Sperry is in obvious viola -
toin of the city's zoning or-
dinance."
The Timberline Civic Associa-
tion officially announced its con-
cern about the noise coming from
Sperry Corp. at the Oct. 4, 1983,
city council meeting. At that
time, the council took a strong
stand on the issue favoring con-
trol of the noise and recommend-
ed the association meet with City
Administrator Tom Hedges and
Sperry representatives in order
to seek a solution. Two such
meetings took place, with Sperry
offering to lessen the noise
through installation of a sound at-
tenuator on the single basement
ventilation stack and to install
diverters on the remaining five
exhaust stacks on the north side
of the Sperry building. Steady
correspondence among
Timberline representatives,
Michaud, and Hedges also took
place.
However, despite Sperry's in-
tentions and because of alleged
bureaucratic runaround, the
residents felt the need to again
address the council (at the Feb. 7
meeting) to ensure they still had
the council's support.
Timberline resident Tom
Nikolai next addressed the coun-
cil and reported on a sound test
held in his home to record the
noise level coming from the
Sperry plant.
"Sunday, Jan_ 29. a sound ex-
pert I. ,. :ted ._.ohc t
about $10,000 worth of equipment
in my home in order to monitor
and chart the sound coming from
Sperry," Nikolai stated. "He
placed a boom microphone one
foot from my bedroom window to
pick up the sound. I have provid-
ed Mr. (Tom) Hedges with an af-
fidavit containing Mr. Fulton's
qualifications and the meter
readings he took of the sound
entering my bedroom.
Nikolai went on to explain that
zero decibels would equal barely
audible sound; 10 decibels would
equal the sound of rustling
leaves; 40 decibels would equal
the sound of a whisper; 60
decibels would equal the sound of
normal converstion; and 70
decibels would equal the sound of
traffic flow in a street.
"Mr. Fulton's meter registered
readings ranging between 63 and
75 decibels," Nikolai continued.
"So at 63 decibles it's the same
noise level as someone having a
conversation in my bedroom
while I'm trying to sleep. At 75
decibels, I've got the noise level
of a busy traffic intersection to
contend with. This is intolerable.
I would like to see the revocation
of Sperry's operating license
unless they bring in a represen-
tative to monitor the noise level.
During phone conversations, they
say they can't understand where
the noise is coming from."
Following comments by
Timberline area resident Garret
Mulrooney along similar lines,
Sperry representative Michaud
took his turn at the microphone.
"I have no prepared remarks
nor will I address the legal con-
notations (of the controversy),"
Michaud explained. "I can only
say Sperry will take care of the
noise problem. We have a plan to
put in an attenuator and diverters
and have agreed to install them
by the end of March, which we
will do. We feel our plan will suc-
teed in reducing the noise level,
and if not, we will work out
another solution '
from the council find it was even-
tually decided by the council that
it will maintain .ts strong stand
against the noi: e. The council
also agreed it we uld have to wait
until the end of March to see if
Sperry's anti -noi ;e equipment is
effective before taking further
action. This broi fight Timberline
resident Don Gib in to the podium
and he rather heatedly attacked
Sperry, while as king that more
severe action be taken by the
council. He expl, tined how he is
only able to sleep for two to three
hours at a time because of the
noise. He also questioned
Sperry's credibili ty.
"Here's a company that is cur-
rently breaking the law because
of its noise po lution," Giblin
said. "Yet it's the same company
that recently h. ,d a group of
women protestor s arrested for
picketing its com iany. Is Sperry
above the law? Is the council
afraid of Sperry Corporation?"
To which Mayor Bea Blomquist
responded: "Thi: council is not
afraid of anyone. '
Council memb .r Tom Egan
then spoke saying, "We're con-
cerned with the fs ct you're losing
sleep. We're just trying to work
this thing out wig hin the agreed
time frame. If th end of March
comes and Sperr i has not com-
plied with reducir g the noise, we
will act again at t at point. When
the end of Marc h was agreed
upon as the time f •ame, we didn't
imagine you 'vo rld have such
noticeable probl, ms with the
noise level, what with windows
being closed in th,, winter."
At Blomquist's request, the
council voted; to again address
the issue at the f rst meeting in
April (April 3) to see if the
Timberline residents are
satisfied with the noise control
Council, se' page 6
Council continued from front
ED MICHAUD, representative of Sperry Corp., took
his turn at the podium to explain that his company is
working within the allotted time frame to alleviate the
noise problem at Sperry.
methods Sperry has im-
plemented.
Eagan then moved that City At-
torney Paul Hauge investigate
what legal recourse the city can
pursue if the noise problem is not
remedied by the April 3 council
meeting. The motion passed
unanimously.
IN OTHER ACTION, THE
COUNCIL:
RECEIVED an update on the
fire department's request for ad-
ditional fire fighters.
APPROVED the six consent
items.
APPROVED the vacation of
public streets for old Lexington
Avenue extended south of Diffley
Road.
DENIED a request for a
change in the liquor license
policy to add a fifth off -sale liquor
license within a specified
geographic area of the city.
VOTED that the Parranto li-
quor license must be im-
plemented by the end of 1984 or be
put up for reconsideration.
APPROVED Michael Con -
struction's request for a
preliminary plat for Hillandale
Addition number two. The street
through the area will be made
public and there will be changes
in some variances in the project.
APPROVED the request by
Lexington South Inc. for an
amendment to the Lexington
South planned development to ex-
change land uses on two parcels
W 1111111 LIMO UC V C1V1J111C11L.
APPROVED the request by
Roger Kreidberg of RLK Corp.
for a preliminary plat entitled the
Pines, containing 26 con-
dominium units on 3.65 acres of
land located at Hilltop Estates.
APPROVED Larry D. Peter-
son's request for a pylon business
sign located at the Rental Place.
REFERRED to the finance
committee a request for a
preliminary resolution to con-
sider a $6 million multi - family
housing development revenue
bond issue for a Carriage Hills
apartment project.
APPROVED a special permit -
to expire in June, 1985 - for James
B. Horne to use a semi - trailer for
storage at 3850 Coronation Rd.
APPROVED Eagan Construc-
tion Company's request for a
4.4 -foot side setback variance at
the Sibley Terminal Industrial
Park in the northwest corner of
Yankee Doodle and Terminal
drives.
CONTINUED final plat ap-
proval for Kensington Place
(Tomark Development).
County extension slates
zoning training sessions