The owner of a sports bar in North Vernon is asking city officials to revisit its noise ordinance. Mike Barnes, with Phat Guys Sports Bar & Grill, says that his business is constantly being visited by police on complaints of excessive noise…

Barnes says that he can’t follow an ordinance that doesn’t include measurables to let him know when his business is in violation. He approached the North Vernon City Council on Monday night, stressing his willingness to work with the city and his neighbors to come to a fair resolution. Barnes talks about his recent efforts to reduce the noise coming from his business, located at 312 Hoosier Street…

Barnes notes that, as a taxpayer, he is being hit with fines based on someone’s opinion and not the letter of the law. He says that his business has been hit with nearly $1,500 in fines from noise complaints, but added that the vagueness of the ordinance resulted in him settling them for $175. Barnes also told the council that 95 percent of the complaints lodged against his business are coming from one home in the area.

Council members asked Police Chief James Webster if the department had any equipment to measure noise levels. He answered “no,” noting that the city would need to buy one, ranging in price from several hundreds of dollars to several thousands of dollars, if the body decided to include a set decibel level in the ordinance.

The city council agreed to consider the issue. Councilwoman Connie Rayburn also wanted to give neighbors and other interested parties a chance to weigh-in on the issue. It is expected to be discussed again at the council’s next meeting, set for Jan. 23.