Worthington City Council is being asked to make one more attempt to quiet the noise of airplanes over the city - noise that some say will get even worse in coming years.
About 15 residents turned out at the council meeting on Monday to request that council add its comments to a study that will be submitted to the FAA next month.
Deadline for submitting comments is Dec. 1, but the city requested and was granted an extension so that council may discuss the issue with airport consultant David Zoll at its Dec. 7 meeting.
In a letter to council, Zoll recommended that the city not comment on the Part 150 Study report, which was made public last month.
But because some residents are not satisfied with the recommendations for noise abatement included in the report, and because some council members are not sure they have looked at all of their options, Zoll will be invited back to discuss the issues.
"There may be a manner in which we can be more effective," said council member Bob Chosy.
Residents who spoke on Monday said they were disappointed with the noise abatement recommendations coming out of the Part 150 Study. That study of noise generated from the Ohio State University airport was undertaken in part because of a request by council.
Over the past three years, consultants have studied noise from the airport, concluding that a noise level considered unacceptable by the FAA does not exist outside of the grounds of Don Scott Field.
The study did list ways noise could be mitigated in the future, but those who spoke on Monday said the study really showed that noise over the city of Worthington would increase when the airport extends its north runway.
It is "single events" of 80 decibels to 85 decibels that people find annoying, said Jane Weislogel. She showed council future flight maps that are part of the Part 150 report. They show even more flights over the city in coming years, she said.
"Those noise contours are alarming," said resident Kim Nixon-Bell.
For many years, residents have had access to a noise-reporting system. The first was operated by the city. Now it is operated by the airport.
Resident John Haueisen said he thought the purpose of reporting noise was to help establish which planes were causing noise so that something could be done about it.
Now he believes it was all a "dog and pony show" designed to make residents believe that something would be done.
City manager Matt Greeson said he would invite Zoll to the first meeting in December.
"We may or may not submit comments," he said.
Also at Monday's meeting, council members Mike Duffey and Dave Norstrom differed on the subject of the 2010 budget and the need to raise taxes in the coming year.
Duffey said he would approve Greeson's budget without major cuts only because he believes the city will go to the voters to increase the income tax rate in the coming year.
Council is expected to vote on the budget in December.
"Why cut if we know we will have more revenue in a year," Duffey asked.
When that happens, he will request that a full-time economic development director be hired, that city expenditures be audited, and that property taxes be reduced.
Norstrom said he does not believe the budget requires a tax increase.
In the future, as costs increase and revenue does not, increased taxes may be needed, he said. It is not appropriate for Duffey to vote on the budget only if a tax increase is assumed, he said.
The case has not been made for the hiring of a full-time economic development director for a city of 14,000 people, Norstrom said.
Bonnie Michael, acting as council president in the absence of Lou Goorey, said the community should be asked what it wants to do in 2010. Council should act only after hearing if the community want to cut services or increase taxes, she said.
"Approve the budget, then reach out to the community," she said.