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Board Rules School Sounds Should Be Expected

KALAMAZOO TWP. (WWJ/AP) - It's safe for the recess bell to ring again at one southwest Michigan school.

MLive.com reports trustees in Kalamazoo County's Kalamazoo Township voted unanimously Monday to amend an ordinance to exempt noises sanctioned by or made by governmental units or schools. It includes exemptions for emergency vehicles and street repairs, for example.

In a letter to the township, a resident claimed the bell was impacting quality of life in the neighborhood. Brian Bourgeois, said he was bothered by the noise "multiple times daily," and asked the township to investigate the issue.

Township Supervisor Ron Reid says police cited Reformed Heritage Christian School for a noise ordinance violation because the bell exceeded a decibel limit in the ordinance. The violation came despite efforts by the school to quiet the bell with a box around it and by adding muffling material.

Trustees held a public hearing on the matter Monday, but no members of the public spoke.

The board determined that school noises such as bells should be expected by those living nearby.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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