Air canons going off every 50 seconds—including during the night—are perfectly legal, even if it’s disturbing the neighbor’s peace.
The noise, coming from Schober Vineyards on Chester Road, near the railroad tracks just over the border from Avon Lake, is from air canons and some Avon Lakers are saying the noise, set to go off continuously every 50 seconds or less, is keeping them up at night.
Schober Vineyards, across from , between Jaycox and Lear roads, sells wholesale and retail grapes as well as “pick your own grapes.” The majority of grapes are machine picked to be used for juice and wine.
One resident called to complain while others took to Facebook to say they heard constant "gunshots" from 1 a.m. on and couldn't sleep.
Greg Zilka’s office began getting complaints from residents asking if there’s anything that can be done, legally, to stop the noise.
The answer is, “no,” according to Avon Planning Coordinator Jim Piazza, who said the canons are legal and the complaints are nothing new.
“We have an exception in our noise ordinance,” Piazza said. “It’s perfectly legal for farms to use to scare pests, 24 hours a day. We go through this every year.”
Avon’s ordinance permits signaling devices on “agricultural property used to prevent the destruction of crops by pests or animals.”
Piazza said the canons are used for only a few weeks a year, and deemed necessary for the crops survival.
“It’s only used two weeks a year,” Piazza said. “I’m sure it’s annoying as hell but it’s permissible for agriculture. They’re trying to protect their crop.
“The raccoons and deer make a mess. A raccoon can destroy 100 yards of grapes in a night.”
Farm owner Ed Schober agreed.
“I’m not trying to make enemies,” Schober said. “I’m just trying to protect my crop. It’s a pretty meager crop as it is.”
Schober said it wasn’t just raccoons and deer the canons are scaring away, but turkey and birds.”
He’s heard complaints before and has tried adjusting the orientation of the canon to appease neighbors to the north.
Homeowners, however, might hear his canon for more than two weeks. Schober said he expected to need the air canons for several more weeks until harvest.
I suspect when your food prices rocket you might have a different opinion. In the interim perhaps you might try ear plugs.
#2 It has been shown that this type of attempted critter control doesn't work as intended. Animals are not as dumb as you might think, and become accustomed to the distraction and ignore it. For example, crows start to perch on a scarecrow soon after one is put in a field. #3 Don't use the argument that farmers were in Lorain County long before the housing boom started here. The animals were here before anyone came here and the farmers knew that some crop loss could be expected. No new residents moving here could have imagined being bombarded all night by strains of the 1812 overture. Can you imagine what a din there would be if all the farmers decided to try using this infernal racket.? #4 Sooner or later, in this era of litigation, someone with a serious health problem will claim that the noise aggrivated their condition through sleep disturbance--and they'll sue the farmer and the city and probably win. If you think about it, the noise legslation should be limited to 24 hour use of fertilizing, planting, and harvesting equipment, the sound of which doesn't carry for 2 or 3 miles, as does the air cannon's. Turn some well trained dogs loose at night in the fields, and the predators will soon get the message that they're not welcome to partake of an evening feast at the farmer's expense.
P.S. I just made the most delicious grape jam.
Jeanne, I love the idea of a sleep machine or even sleeping pills, however I have 2 little ones that I need to be alert for. Besides, I don't think it's fair to ask residents in a 15 mile radius to change their bedtime routines or spend $50 for 1 farmer's poor choice. What do other farm's do to keep the animals at bay? Air canons?!? Really?! That just seems ridiculous. Wile E. Coyote comes to mind.