Minot city staff was tasked with quite a challenge by the city council during Monday’s meeting.

The Minot City Council directed staff to look into potential remedies for numerous complaints about construction-related noise disturbing residents via ordinance changes and bring back recommendations in early 2020.

Council member Josh Wolsky brought the issue up at the meeting and specifically mentions construction-related noise at “taking place outside of times that I would consider reasonable construction hours.”

Noise in the evenings and early morning hours in residential areas is not acceptable, Wolsky said. He suggested tightening up a noise ordinance that makes exceptions for construction.

Council members indicated that the majority of complaints are in regard to city projects as opposed to private construction. There was certainly understanding of public concerns.

However, Mayor Shaun Sipma pointed out that there is often need for construction to take place at inopportune times and even for 24-hour work. It’s a reasonable point for a number of reasons, from the short construction season in the region to the need for timely progress on flood protection and to the need to avoid having necessary projects pile up and roll over from year to year.

Residents’ needs are, of course, of primary concern, but both the issue of limiting construction-related noise and advancing projects are resident needs.

City staff faces quite a challenge in seeking solutions that address both these needs. Minot Daily News recommends a wide-ranging discussion seeking an innovative solution to the problem.