BY MARY ELLEN GEIST
The sound of a ferry horn is causing a controversy in Charlevoix County:
It begins at 6:30 in the morning when the 50 foot long... 30 foot
wide.steel barge called the Ironton Ferry takes it's first
passengers .. across the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. It's a 610
foot trip many people who live in the Boyne City, East Jordan,
Ironton and Charlevoix area take .. aboard the 43 ton barge every
single day.
The horn blowing finally ends at 10:30 at night.
"and it's such a shame because this is such a nice area..."
Ferry Operators like Helen Dillon .. who's been doing this for 20
years.. say they feel sorry for nearby neighbors:
..and it's really very unnecessary.. even though it's a rule. I understand
that.. it's just we don't have that much traffic especially at this time.a year.
and in the summer, when we do have a lot of boat
traffic..we do blow the horn or if there's fog.. but other than
that.. I realize too that's a rule.. but.. the coast guard.. all I
can say is.. .. I hope it's resolved. "
Ferry Operators sound what's estimated to be a 115 decibel horn
every seven to ten minutes - and it's quite loud, especially when
you're on board - every time a ferry departs:
The ferry has been operating.. with no accidents.. for more than 82
years. Until recently, operators only sounded the horn when it was
necessary.. . all that changed when a complaint that the horn wasn't
being sounded on a regular basis came in last month.. that's when
Charlevoix county sheriff Don Schnieder got involved:
"the federal law.. rule number 34 paren g..ok states in general
terms.. anytime a vessel departing a dockc or mooring shall sound
their horn from 4 to 6 seconds..well, this wasn't being done with
the ferry.. and consquently the complaint came thru.. they started
doing it which generated a tremendous amount of citizens
complaints.. .. a business owner.. right beside the ferry west side
of the ferry.. obviously he was very upset..
Sheriff Schnieder says residents and business owners reacted
immediately after the horn started sounding on every single trip :
"you can't even carry on a conversation"
This man who lives 100 yards away from the ferry says it's a
constant disturbance:
"the ferry itself doesn'tmake a lot of noise. it doesn't cause a problem..
we have some friends of ours..live probably across the way and down at least a mile
and they can hear it over there.."
Sheriff Schnieder says he has received 33 written complaints about
the horn. A large group of residents turned out at a recent county
board of commissioners meeting to make it clear they want the horn to
be used only when needed:.. instead of approximately 150 times a
day. Sheriff Schneider has applied for a waiver:
"it's called a certificate of alternate complaiance..it's an
application .requesting that rule 34 paren g . be waived in regards to
the Ironton Ferry"
Congressman Bart Stupak's office is now involved. But the Commanding
officer of the coast guard sector field office in Grand Haven, Robert
Hemp, who's been researching the Ironton Ferry horn dispute most of
the summer, tells CMU "I believe a complete waiver does not appear
likely." The coast guard district office in Cleveland is expected to
make a final decision in the next couple of weeks..
