SPANISH FORT — The city will consider the long talked about issue of noise again Monday night.

The proposed noise ordinance has been on the City Council’s minds for several months but has yet to be considered for a vote. The city was to consider the matter during the June 18 council meeting, but some changes to the ordinance were suggested in a preceding work session and the proposal was tabled.

Mayor Joe Bonner said the ordinance was too confusing.

Bonner asked city attorney David Conner to go back to the ordinance and simplify the wording to make it easier for citizens to understand.

The proposed ordinance as it stands would deal with different noises coming from cars, construction, homes and recreational activities.

The question the council is struggling with is how far to take the restrictions.

The ordinance would restrict fireworks to traditional days during the year such as Independence Day and New Year. Any other use of fireworks would be prohibited without a permit granted by the mayor.

Another stipulation in the ordinance would restrict noise from construction sites to certain hours. The ordinance forbids all activities from construction or demolition between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Emergency repairs would be allowed under the proposed rules.

One of the most controversial restrictions would be limits on the use of loudspeakers, amplifiers and public address systems. The council is looking at giving permission to athletic fields to use the systems — within restricted hours.

Bonner said, “The ball fields at Spanish Fort Elementary and Spirit Park would be allowed to use a P.A. system for announcements from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.”

The athletic fields at Spanish Fort High School would be allowed to use a system later in the evening to accommodate football games.

“Those fields would be allowed to use a system from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.,” Bonner said.

Bonner said the noise problem arises because “some people are going to push you as far as they can and we cannot cure it unless we have a law.”

Bonner recalled an occasion when a group of young people had practiced their garage band during late evening hours.

“We had no way of penalizing them and they knew it,” he said. “This will give us the tool to do it.”

The council is scheduled to consider the ordinance at its next meeting, Monday, July 2, 6 p.m.

The meeting will be at Spanish Fort United Methodist Church, Prodisee Center located on Spanish Fort Boulevard.