ATHENS — The Limestone County Commission was asked by state leaders Tuesday to examine passing a resolution that would create a noise ordinance.

State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, said he’s received “numerous” calls from residents who had noise complaints. He said the local legislative delegation could possibly pass a local ordinance when the Legislature reconvenes in February, but it will first require a resolution from the commission.

“It has to start with you,” he said, adding the commission could pass a resolution similar to what the city of Athens has in place. “Residents don’t know who’s in control of the noise problems.”

Because the county does not have home rule, many ordinances Athens has don’t exist in the county, including nuisance and weed ordinances.

“There are a lot of things we don’t have the authority to do,” said Commission Chairman Stanley Menefee.

Commissioner Bill Latimer asked if the county started regulating noise, if it would then be asked to regulate odors and dilapidated houses.

“There’s a certain time of year when farmers put chicken manure on the cotton fields, and I get a lot of calls about that,” he said.

Former Athens mayor and State Rep. Dan Williams, R-Athens, said he’s willing to work with Holtzclaw in Montgomery on the measure. He said Athens passed its current noise ordinance in 1999 while he was mayor, and that it was intended to address loud car radios.

Holtzclaw said Sheriff Mike Blakely had likely received numerous calls about noise issues, to which the sheriff replied, “One or two in the last 30 years.” Blakely said what usually happens is that a deputy will respond to a noise call, but by the time he or she arrives, the noise has ceased.

“Citizens can serve a warrant for disturbing the peace, but they may not want to do that,” he said. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If someone’s playing Hank Williams at 2 a.m., I don’t know that you need to arrest them for it.”

Limestone resident Tony Llewellyn asked if a noise ordinance would extend to animals, agricultural noise and the Moore & Newby Gin.

“When that cranks up, there’s a lot of noise, but I know that’s money in their pockets,” he said. “If you’ve got a braying jackass, do you put a muffler on it?”

Elsewhere during Tuesday’s meeting, the commission briefly discussed the future of the L&S shopping center on North Jefferson Street. An item on the agenda lumped together plans to approve lease agreements for remaining tenants and the possible demolition of the old Fred’s building in favor of constructing something smaller.

Commissioner Bill Daws asked if the two items could be considered separately, to which Menefee agreed. The commission then passed a resolution to approve the new lease agreements, but did not produce a dollar figure tenants would be charged.

Menefee asked the commissioners to have a dollar amount prepared by the Sept. 12 work session, and to be prepared to vote on it. Demolition was not discussed, but Menefee said the Limestone Emergency Management Agency is in need 60-foot by 80-foot building that could be constructed on the property.

Also on the agenda was a resolution to accept bids to demolish the remaining portion of the old Limestone County Jail on Green Street. The motion died, however, because it did not receive a second.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved a joint agreement between the city and county to solicit bids for Internet services. The City Council is expected to pass a similar resolution at its Sept. 10 meeting;

• Approved an agreement to fund a juvenile court liaison for the Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama at a cost of $55,000 annually;

• Approved an Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $47,595;

• Gave final approval for Legacy Grove addition six, a 22-lot major subdivision north of Newby Road;

• Gave preliminary and final approval for Wales Manor II, a six-lot subdivision east of Mooresville Road and south of U.S. 72;

• Changed the weight limit for a bridge on Pinedale Road over Limestone Creek Relief from 35 tons to 34 tons and the weight limit for a bridge on Lucas Ferry Road over Mud Creek from 17 tons to 9 tons; and

• Updated the county employee policy regarding the use of wireless devices while driving, loading and unloading equipment for transport policy and vehicle fleet safety.