Schools

Solution Sought for Noise From Lake Bluff Middle School Chillers

Residents around the school form committee seeking return of peaceful, tranquil neighborhood.

In at least two previous appearances this year before the , Lake Bluff residents Bob and Kristan Clifford appeared by themselves when addressing the board during public comments.

Tuesday night, they came as part of a committee numbering more than 73 of their neighbors, known as the Middle School Noise Abatement (MSNA) committee, who are affected during the summer months by excessive noise coming from the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning compressors behind Lake Bluff Middle School.

The Clifford’s backyard on Circle Drive sits behind the middle school, and for three summers Bob Clifford said they have endured the noise from the compressors. They have spoken to the District 65 Board during the public-comment period before about the noise issue, but Tuesday night their tone suggested enough was enough.

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“I can’t imagine anyone here tonight who would want to endure even a single night listening to the constant grinding of an industrial-sized compressor,” he said.

Clifford told the board Tuesday that they have been patient while the school district worked on a solution but had reached a point where “our patience is wearing thin.”

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“Thus far, your attempts to mitigate the noise levels have resulted in poor results that are completely unsatisfactory to the neighborhood,” said Clifford, who indicated he was the spokesman for MSNA.

Last weekend, interim said he met with committee members and agreed that the board “had done things that haven’t resulted in noise reduction.”

Look for Specialty Companies

Tuesday night, Martindale received the board’s approval to contact firms specializing in industrial noise based on his meeting with the MSNA. “We need to get another opinion to see if someone whose company specializes in this area night has some ideas of how to approach this,” Martindale said.

The move follows a special daytime board meeting held July 13 behind the middle school to determine if the use of baffles would negate the noise from the compressors. The baffles were a recommendation from a company that does not specialize in industrial noise.

Clifford attended that day, and he said a simulation using the baffles was ineffective.

“None of us in attendance that day felt the baffles would solve the problem,” Clifford said of MSNA members at the simulation. “As a group, we are strongly recommending that you do not waste additional taxpayer resources on baffles. It would result in another band-aid on the situation, and we would still be subjected to the loud compressor noise.”

East School Removal

This proposed remedy followed the school district’s request to the Clifford’s earlier pleas to wait until to see if the absence of the building would make a difference. Clifford said there was a difference, but not a good one.

“The removal of East School has now broadened the impact to residents along East Sheridan Road and Vincent Court, and increased the noise levels to residents of Circle Drive and Witchwood Avenue,” Clifford said.

Several other residents from the affected streets also backed up Clifford’s assessment in speaking to the board Tuesday night, including Richard Fontana, who has lived on Circle Drive for 22 years.

“The noise is at my front door is worse,” he said. “My kids cannot sleep with the windows open.”

Christine and Michael Klawitter, who have lived on East Sheridan Place for 26 years, said they were glad to see a group come together to present the information to the board. “This (situation) is a total nuisance,” Christine Klawitter said.

Committee Asking Points

In addition to asking for the district to seek help from a specialist in industrial noise, Clifford also asked for three other points of input by MSNA.

  • To review and provide input on the recommended alternatives.
  • To participate in the bidding process that would allow MSNA to recommend one of three bidders once a solution is chosen.
  • To receive a specific timeline for fixing this issue with a series of scheduled updates from Martindale toward the goal of returning the noise levels in the neighborhood to what they were prior to HVAC compressors.

Clifford asked for a solution by this fall, but in discussion, the board asked for more time to pursue the specialty companies. Martindale said he would be happy to provide the same updates he gives to the board with the MSNA. However, he also indicated that working with MSNA had limitations.

“This is really the responsibility of the school district and the board of education,” Martindale said. “We can entertain working with this group. We certainly welcome ideas from everyone.”


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