McCleary residents who have grown tired of unanswered noise complaints brought their frustrations to the McCleary City Council on Aug. 23.

The McCleary VFW post rents its facility for various events throughout the year. The members don’t need the facility space every night, and they can use the rental fee as revenue to support the building and their functions. But some of those renters haven’t been respecting the VFW’s neighbors, residents say.

A handful of residents directed their frustrations to the city council claiming that the city isn’t doing enough to enforce its noise ordinance.

The most outspoken community member, Jackie Juntti, said the loud bass interferes with a heart condition she has. She says she’s called on the police, but they don’t respond.

“Why, when this is noise heard up on the hills and every place else, why is it the noise ordinance is not enforced?” Juntti said.”You guys all know who it is who is doing this, you know the location — why have an ordinance if it’s just going to be ignored?”

A party at the facility on the weekend before the council meeting again had loud music and disorderly behavior, but residents said no police officers were on scene.

When asked by Mayor Brent Schiller if they called the police to report the noise, nobody in the room had. Schiller urged the residents to call the police while the noise is happening so any city ordinances can be enforced.

“The only thing I can say is call so we can enforce it,” Schiller said. “If you don’t call, we have no backbone to enforce the ordinance.”

But in the past, Juntti said, calls were made and there was no response.

McCleary Police Chief Steve Blumer said his office has to prioritize and can’t always respond, but he also echoed the mayor in encouraging the public to call the police while the noise is happening.

“You have to remember that I have priorities, so if I have someone being shot at, it’s going to be a priority over a noise complaint,” Blumer said. “Call 9-1-1 and we can resolve this going forward. If it doesn’t — you have my word in front of everyone here, you have The Vidette here — come back to council and hold me accountable. I’m giving my word — call us and we will fix this issue moving forward.”

Michael Bens, speaking on behalf of the VFW, also encouraged residents to call the police if renters are unruly, but he said the VFW post needs the revenue and can’t be responsible for the renters’ disorderly conduct.

“We welcome police participation. As far as renting the building, we truly don’t know what to do. We need the rental money to sustain the livelihood of that structure of the club here in McCleary,” Bens said. “We’re kind of between a rock and a hard spot. The VFW is trying. I think the solution is if the renters are acting in a disorderly way, then call the police to arrest them — it’s that simple.”

Mayor Schiller eventually cut the conversation short saying it was bordering into a civil dispute between the VFW and neighbors rather than a city issue.