BUTLER TWP — Butler Township officials will consider making noise enforcement at businesses a township matter rather than a state issue after a business owner requested the commissioners look at the problem.

Kirk Kearn, owner of the bar Rock Ann Haven on Greenwood Drive, told the commissioners Monday night that state regulations governing noise created by businesses are too onerous

“It’s impossible for us to comply,” Kearn said.

He said the regulations, which are enforced by Liquor Control Enforcement, an arm of the Pennsylvania State Police, forbid any audible noise outside a business and have resulted in multiple fines against his establishment.

Kearn said he wants township officials to take over noise enforcement, which would effectively relax the regulations

“We are not a nuisance by any means,” Kearn said. “We just have one disgruntled neighbor, and I have no idea why.”

Those residents are Fuji Sisca and Greg Macklin, who say they’ve been neighbors of the business for 22 years, and now keep a log of disturbances, which include motorcycle noise that’s audible from their bedroom.

“They’re not good neighbors,” Sisca said of the business.

Township Police Chief John Hays said the couple has filed about a dozen noise complaints with the department since 2002. Some of those complaints cited music and others cited motorcycle noise, he said.

The bar hasn’t been cited by township police, Hays said. The township allows businesses with an amusement license to create as much as 90 decibels of noise as measured 25 feet from its property line.

But under Liquor Control Enforcement rules, any audible noise outside a business can result in a citation.

Those citations can vary on a “case-by-case” basis, said Trooper Adam Reed, a public information officer with the state police.

“It could be anything from affecting their liquor license to mandating training for employees and making sure the establishment is familiar with the law and proper procedure,” Reed said.

Municipalities can assume control of noise from Liquor Control Enforcement, said Ed Kirkwood, township manager, but the question facing commissioners is whether they want the township police department to have an increased workload.

Kirkwood said at least 14 businesses in the township have amusement licenses. Those include national chain restaurants and independent bars and taverns.

“It could be a very daunting task,” Kirkwood said of assuming noise control.

Chief Hays, who plans to offer a recommendation to commissioners on the matter, said the issue doesn’t boil down to one business.

“It’s not like a spot. We would have to take it over for every bar in the township that would have any type of amusement,” Hays said.

Commissioner President Joe Hasychak said he wants to visit Rock Ann Haven himself to see what Sisca and Macklin are talking about, but at this point he does not support the township assuming the duties from the state.

“We’re trying to do the right thing for both sides,” he said.

Commissioner Vice President Dave Zarnick said he’s only aware of complaints from Sisca and Macklin about Rock Ann Haven. Zarnick said the commissioners want to balance the concerns of residents and businesses, and he expects the commissioners to “sit back, take our time, and see if we can’t come to a happy medium.”