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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