Two public hearings will be held during the regularly scheduled meeting of Caldwell County Commissioners on Monday, Dec. 7. The first public hearing will deal with two separate noise ordinances, while the second public hearing is in regard to amendments proposed for the current Watershed Protection Ordinance.

Following a 30-minute public comment period at 5:30 p.m., the meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the City-County Chambers - located on the first floor of the Alden E. Starnes County Office Plaza - in Lenoir.

The public is invited to make comments at both hearings.

The first noise ordinance is a general ordinance that covers the regulation of sound crossing outdoor real property boundaries. The regulations are based on time of day and decibel sound levels in residential areas and decibel sound levels at any time of day from commercial or industrial areas.

The ordinance also provides for application for special permits that would allow exceptions to the sound level requirements for set periods of time (i.e. special events, concerts, etc). Violations of this ordinance would be $100 for the first offense and $500 for each following offense.

The second noise ordinance covers the limiting of operation times at raceways, racetracks and drag strips in Caldwell County. This ordinance would allow testing, practicing or racing vehicles on these tracks only during the months of March through October. The operations could take place on only two days per week from Thursday through Sunday.

The operating hours on one day must be between noon to 9 p.m. and the other day from noon to 11 p.m. Penalties for violation would be $500, which must be paid within 72 hours.

The public can read both of the noise ordinances in their entirety by going to the Caldwell County Web site at www.caldwellcountync.org and clicking on the links on the front page under public announcements.

A second public hearing will be held regarding amendments to the Caldwell County Watershed Protection Ordinance. If approved, the amendments would delegate the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners as the Watershed Review Board for final decision in appeals.

The entire Watershed Protection Ordinance with the proposed amendments is also available on the county Web site.

For more information about the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners meeting or any of the public hearings, contact Caldwell County Public Information Officer LouAnne Kincaid at lkincaid@caldwellcountync.org or 828-759-7879.