During its meeting Monday night at the City-County Chambers in Lenoir, the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 7 to consider a proposed noise ordinance.

The proposal could impact the operations of two racing facilities in the county – Tri-County Motor Speedway in the Baton community and Antioch Motor Speedway near Gamewell.

According to the proposal, motor racing, testing or practicing would be permitted from March through October on two days per week from Thursday through Saturday. On one of the two days, operations will be permitted from noon to 9 p.m., with the other day allowing operation between noon and 11 p.m,

Each violation of the ordinance will result in a $500 civil penalty, payable within 72 hours of citation.

The ordinance applies to “running the motor of any vehicle engaged in racing or speed competition, on the premises of any raceway, racetrack, or drag strip in Caldwell County ...”

The ordinance also establishes maximum decibel levels by land use.

Meanwhile, the board reviewed key indicators for the month of October that show the county still is struggling to meet sales tax revenue targets. Sales tax receipts last month for transactions that occurred in July totaled $616,000, missing the budgeted total of $663,000 by $47,000. Caldwell County Financial Services Manager Tony Helton said totals for November show $617,000 in revenue.

Helton took encouragement from the November total, noting that those sales occurred in August during the back-to-school sales tax holiday period.

He added that the target level will drop to $446,000 in January as part of the state’s Medicaid relief plan that takes away a portion of sales tax revenue.

Commissioner Rob Bratcher said the sales tax number “continues to bear watching” and encouraged residents to shop locally during the holiday season.

Elsewhere in the report, revenue from Caldwell County Detention Center operations continues to exceed expectations. Receipts totaled $132,000 in October, well ahead of the budgeted $76,000 per month. Helton credits some of the success to the recent agreement between Caldwell and Alexander counties in which Caldwell agreed to house inmates from Alexander’s prison.

Revenue also remains ahead of budget at the Caldwell County landfill and in Home Health operations.

At the same time, county salary and benefits are below targeted numbers, while energy use came in 10 percent below the budgeted number in October.

In other business, the board:

• Received a report from Appalachian State University Greater Hickory Partnership Director Jane Everson about programs offered through the school. ASU operates an education center on the campus of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and recently opened another facility in Morganton.

• Approved fund balance appropriations totaling $51,044 to purchase equipment and motor data terminals for new Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles.

• Agreed to surplus two undercover Sheriff’s Office vehicles and authorized the use of the sale proceeds to purchase a car that will be used in narcotics investigations.

• Approved using insurance settlement funds toward the purchase of an unmarked 2010 Dodge Charger for $21,000 for Sheriff’s Office use.

• Appointed Sharon Pennell and David Icard to the Caldwell County Council for Women.