Preston Council Grapples With Plant Finish and Noise Rules
Council members discuss the wastewater plant and noise ordinance on Sept. 14.
Preston Council Grapples With Plant Finish and Noise Rules
Algae clogs, grant dollars, and a backyard rock concert spark heated debate.
Sandy Martin watched a neighbor’s backyard rock concert blast through her windows and brought the noise issue to council on Sept. 14.
The wastewater treatment plant is technically finished, but a dozen punch‑list items still linger, according to engineer Coulter Hollingshead. Algae has begun choking the filters, and crews are scrambling to keep the system clean while they wait for the 30‑day filter test to finish without a hitch.
Over $1 million in retainage sits on the table until that test wraps up and the warranty can kick in. The city also has about $3 million in grant money earmarked for collection‑line swaps, a new SCADA system at the lift station, and a sewer model that will help planners map future growth.
The grant funds will also cover the 4th North sewer project, which council hopes to bundle into the collection‑system work and bid over the winter.
“The filters must run without issues for 30 days to be considered complete and for the year warranty to begin,” Hollingshead said, emphasizing the tight timeline.
Meanwhile, the water‑tank redesign is set to go out for bid at the end of October, just before the Nov. 3 bond election. Those bids could shape how the plant operates for decades.
Sandy Martin played a short clip of the concert for council members, hoping the audio would illustrate why a city‑specific noise ordinance matters. She told officials that police had only the vague state code to fall back on, making enforcement feel like chasing a shadow.
“No city noise ordinance exists and the police use the state code,” Martin explained, her voice steady but clearly frustrated.
Legal counsel Lyle Fuller warned that drafting a new ordinance would be “a complex subject that would take a considerable amount of time to iron out an appropriate ordinance.” His caution sparked a back‑and‑forth about decibel limits, exemptions for events, and how nearby towns handle similar complaints.
Council members recalled that Preston once had a noise ordinance, but it vanished in 2002. The idea of bringing it back floated to the surface, and the council voted to revisit the topic at a future meeting.
In a lighter moment, councilmember Brent Dodge praised the LOTOJA race that threads through Preston, noting how it pumps life into local businesses. Todd Thomas added that his 19‑year‑old grandson rode the full 200‑plus miles, calling the event a “community spirit‑builder.”
Business licenses were approved for Pierced.by.shay, Jamie’s Nail Lounge, Edson Builders, and Livingston Homes, signaling a modest but steady flow of new enterprises.
As the consent calendar cleared, the council’s focus shifted from infrastructure to quality‑of‑life issues, leaving residents to wonder which concern will dominate next week’s agenda.
Sources & Further Reading
Why the Plant Still Needs Attention
The algae problem isn’t just a nuisance; it threatens the plant’s ability to meet state discharge standards. If filters fail during the 30‑day test, the city could lose the warranty and face costly repairs. The $1 million retainage acts as a safety net, ensuring the contractor stays motivated to fix the punch‑list items quickly.
Noise Ordinance: A Community’s Wish for Quiet
Martin’s complaint highlights a gap between state law and local expectations. While the state code sets a baseline, residents want clear, enforceable limits that reflect Preston’s small‑town character. Re‑introducing an ordinance could give police a concrete decibel ceiling and carve out exceptions for approved events.
The grant money earmarked for the sewer upgrades also includes funding for a new SCADA monitoring system, which will provide real‑time data on flow rates and help prevent future algae blooms by adjusting treatment parameters automatically.
Engineers anticipate that once the 30‑day filter test is successfully completed, the city will be able to release the retainage and trigger the warranty, effectively locking in a decade‑long guarantee on the plant’s critical components.
Community members who attended the council meeting expressed mixed feelings: some praised the progress on the wastewater plant, while others remained skeptical about the timeline for a new noise ordinance, fearing it could stall without clear legislative backing.
Local businesses, such as Jamie’s Nail Lounge and Edson Builders, are watching the council’s decisions closely, as infrastructure improvements often translate into increased foot traffic and construction activity in the downtown area.
What Happens Next
- Oct. 31 — Bids open for the water‑tank redesign, just before the bond election.
- Nov. 3 — Voters decide on bond measures that could fund the remaining grant projects.
- Future council meeting — Noise ordinance proposal returns to the agenda for further debate (on or before December 15, 2026).
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