SALEM TOWNSHIP - Complaints about barking dogs and the whine and rumble of all-terrain vehicles moved Salem Township officials to propose laws imposing peace and quiet, but some residents wouldn't hear of it.
The opposition has sent township Supervisor Fred Roperti and his board back to the drawing board.
"I was surprised," Roperti said. "We took this action after being contacted by residents who were tired of the ATV four-wheelers and dirt bikes making things so noisy they couldn't enjoy their own back yard. We got complaints about barking dogs - and stray dogs."
But at a public hearing on the proposed dog ordinance and noise ordinance, people made plenty of noise in opposition.
"People ... were afraid we would limit their dogs, or make them get rid of their dogs, and some said they moved out here to the country to ride their four-wheelers and dirt bikes, which they can't do in the city," Roperti said. "People were upset."
Roperti plans to name a committee of people on both sides of the arguments to tackle the issue.
The proposed dog ordinance would have required dogs to be leashed or under "reasonable control," when not fenced, required owners to pick up their dog's droppings, outlawed loud, frequent barking, outlawed possession of "fierce" dogs and required licensing and vaccinations.
The proposed anti-noise ordinance would have outlawed "unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise" from all-terrain vehicles, horns, radios or TVs and made the owner of the ATV, not the user, responsible for any violation. Progressive fines began at $100 and rose to $500 for the third violation.
Susan Sanocki's grown tired of hearing the high-pitched whine from a neighbor's outdoor track, once used for horses but converted about a year ago for dirt bike use.
"You come home after a hard day at work, you want some peace and quiet, you want to have dinner without noise and you can't," she said. "None of us would have probably said a word if it only happened two or three times a week, or on a weekend. But it's constant. And there's no respect. No one has ever asked, 'Do you mind?"' It's a hell hole surrounded by civility. I don't know what happens to people. They move out here, they get a couple of acres and they think they have their own private kingdom."
A Salem Road resident who asked that her name not be used said she moved to the area 20 years ago, and has 25 acres.
It's not unusual, she said, for a neighboring vacant parcel to have upwards of 40 ATVs on any given weekend. "They come from Milford, Wixom, and go all the time. The kids can't sleep, we've had to bring company into the house because we can't stand it anymore. And they will retaliate when you call the police. I could write a book on what they've done to us."
Barton Cann, who moved with his family four years ago from Livonia to Tower Road, has acreage and dirt bikes.
"I would not be opposed to an ordinance that was carefully and reasonably crafted, but the one they proposed basically gave you no recourse until you went before the magistrate," he said. "You would be ticketed - and fined $100 or $200 or $500 - whatever it was. And there was no time restriction. Most ordinances make allowances for a period of time where the activity can take place, say 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is all about getting away from (those laws of the city) and living in the country where you can enjoy (things like dirt bikes).
"I like the idea of a committee and a reasonable solution," he said. "I think that's a good direction in which to move."
Roperti invites people on both sides of the argument to join the committee by calling (248) 349-1690.