Commissioners Sign Noise Resolution
Fayette County Commissioners Court signed a resolution last week urging oil and gas companies to keep noisy equipment away from residential areas. They also urged the State Legislature to crack down on noise generated by oil and gas companies.
The issue came up back in March when residents of the Colony Oaks Subdivision on Leslie Rd. near Fayetteville raised a complaint with Magnolia Oil and Gas. Magnolia operates a gas compressor near Colony Oaks that generates so much noise that some residents say they cannot sleep at night.
State law authorizes incorporated cities to regulate noise within their jurisdictions. Counties, however, have no such authority in Texas.
The non-binding resolution signed at the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, May 25, urges oil and gas companies to keep loud equipment at least 1,000 feet away from a residential property line. Furthermore, the resolution asks the Texas Legislature to pass legislation allowing county governments to regulate nuisances.
A copy of the resolution will be sent to State Representative Stan Kitzman and State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who both represent Fayette County in the State Legislature.
County Judge Dan Mueller and Pct. 2 Commissioner Luke Sternadel sent a letter to Magnolia earlier this month urging the company to settle the dispute with the landowners in Colony Oaks. Mueller said at the meeting that one of the landowners, Don Mendel, reported that Magnolia reached out to him and were working to resolve the issue.
“They’re actively working to resolve that,” Mueller said. “So the letter was successful.”
William Bernsen of Plum spoke at the meeting to praise the Commissioners Court for backing the citizens on Leslie Rd.
“The way the resolution is laid out and the manner in which y’all went about doing this, I think it will have some political teeth,” Bernsen said. “The court getting behind the citizens – I really liked the way y’all handled this.”
“Mr. Mendel seemed very pleased,” Mueller said. “It seems like they’re making progress.”