(KNZA)--The owner of a Hiawatha bar wants to see changes made to the city’s noise ordinance.

Donald Wooddell, owner/operator of the First Street Bar and Grill, addressed the City Commission Monday evening, saying the ordinance is creating problems for his business. “It's a very vague noise ordinance that leaves no wiggle room for a commercially zoned operation and it's actually causing me a lot of problems,” Wooddell told the Commission. “I continue to get tickets, I've done everything to appease my one neighbor that has a problem with it.  I've bought sound deadening curtains at just under $500. I'm four or five tickets into this.”

He said the noise complaints have primarily occurred on karaoke nights, which are held on the first Saturday of every month.

Roy Nemecek, of Wamego, serves as the karaoke DJ.   He says the karaoke nights are bringing people from outside the area into the community and revenue into town, but that will stop if the ordinance isn't changed. “We would love to continue doing this but obviously, at this rate, I don't blame them for not having me here because they can not afford these tickets. This will be the third time we've had to rebuild this business on karaoke night, and my fear is my patrons that keep coming obviously are not going to come if your officers are going to come all the time.”
 
The current ordinance makes it a violation to create a noise that’s plainly audible from a distance of 200 feet between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Police Chief John Defore said as a rule his officers currently act only on citizen complaints and agrees there are no concessions for commercial businesses in the ordinance.

Defore was directed to research possible options and report back to the Commission.