Mike Durig, a resident of Riverside Drive, told New Martinsville council Jan. 5 that he has had about all he can take of the noise during restricted hours emanating from Wal-Mart.

The city’s noise ordinance declares that no heavy machinery can be operated from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., but Durig says that is not being enforced, at least not at Wal-Mart.

“We have no noise ordinance at all in this town, evidently. Someone needs to put their foot down and get a handle on this. It’s getting pretty nerve wracking,” said Durig. He said it is no wonder people take the law into their own hands.

Durig said he hasn’t noticed too many Wal-Mart trucks during the restricted hours; it is the contractors that are violating the prohibited hours. He particularly noted the cleaning truck that sweeps the lot and wakes him up each time it passes by his bedroom window. “Since our neighbor Wal-Mart has come in, we’ve been railroaded and treated like dogs,” declared Durig.

Durig repeatedly attended council meetings from 1998 to 2004 to discuss the issue and complain about the noise emitting from the Wal-Mart lot. While he says it has let up some since the Wal-Mart opened in Moundsville, it is still unbearable.

Mayor Lucille Blum said she will set up a meeting with Wal-Mart to discuss the situation.

In other matters, Police Chief Tim Cecil presented his year-end report, noting that in 2008 the New Martinsville Police Department made 54 felony arrests. “We usually have 12 to 13 a year,” said Cecil.

“What do you attribute that to?” Blum asked about the increase.

“Investigator Donnie Harris,” Cecil simply replied.

In another police matter, Councilman Steve Pallisco said he thinks the city has a big problem with communications as all city entities-police, fire, building inspector-have radio problems on the east side of W.Va. 2 in Steelton. Pallisco said he would coordinate a meeting with all parties including Wetzel County Office of Emergency Management Director Ed Sapp.