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16 <br />this group might want to talk about that. For example, we might talk about the <br />usefulness of a deputy taking decibel readings at a property line, or the need for <br />new equipment. Deputy Sykes added that the Sheriff’s Office is slated to acquire a <br />new noise meter to address enforcement of the existing noise ordinance, but <br />currently the noiseordinance does not address gunfire at all. Commissioner Jacobs <br />said that the Committee could address the question of whether it would be helpful <br />to address gunfire through an amended noise ordinance, at least to understand what <br />it is and what it is not in order to understand whether it can have any effect on any <br />of the concerns of neighbors who cannot talk successfully with their neighbors. <br />Mr. Kirkland said that some people have asked about how the size of the parcel on <br />which someone is shooting affects the impact of the activity upon their neighbors. <br />A very small lot is less likely to contain a projectile, for example, he said. Looking <br />through some other counties’ ordinances, Hokeand Mecklenburg, for example, <br />I’ve seen restrictions on lot sizes. I don’t know if that might help us in addressing <br />noise concerns, given the close proximity of some people living on very small lots. <br />Mr. Tesoro asked what the difference is between the 2015 ordinance and the 1997 <br />law that had been referenced earlier in the meeting. Mr. Roberts explained that the <br />1997 law is a State law, and that the County adopted a land use ordinance for <br />shooting ranges in 2015. Mr. Roberts offered to distribute copies of both to the <br />Committee. Commissioner McKee asked Mr. Roberts to distribute the sport <br />shooting range protection act that Commissioner Jacobs had referred to earlier, and <br />any other ordinance or state law that might be good information for the Committee <br />tohave. <br />Thefollowing ideas were noted by the facilitator on flip chart paperover the <br />course of the discussion: <br />What is working well? <br />x Neighbors speaking to neighbors. <br />x The number of calls to the Sheriff’s Office complaining about gun fire is <br />down while thecounty population is up. <br />x Responsible gun owners are acting responsibly, as evidenced by the <br />Sheriff’s data that there are not a lot of complaints about errant rounds. <br />x The younger generation is participating in hunter safety courses. <br />What is problematic?