By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - A dispute over noise coming from a national trucking and transportation carrier in neighboring Columbia Township won't land in court, at least not now.

Mariemont leaders will hold off suing Bulkmatic Transport Co. after a company official late Monday produced a plan and timeline to reduce the noise.

Dan Bowling, director of tank cleaning/compliance for Bulkmatic Transport Co., pledged before council that the company is taking steps such as buying a new $75,000 conveyor belt system to quell the noise.

At residents' request, he also said he would ask company leaders if overnight operations can cease. Mariemont neighbors say Bulkmatic machinery jars them awake in the early hours of the morning.

"We would like to cooperate and do what we can to lessen the noise at the site," Bowling told leaders and residents. "We realize the best thing would be for us to produce less noise so everyone can enjoy where they are at."

Mariemont's solicitor, Edward McTigue, requested he put his promises in writing and file them with the village by the next council meeting, Jan. 12.

"I think you have taken a very nice approach with the $75,000 cost because not a lot of companies are spending a lot right now, so thank you for that," added Councilman Doug Adams.

Village officials and residents have been complaining for years about a roaring, sometimes nearly deafening noise coming from Bulkmatic. It stems from trucks hooking up to the rail cars and using a vacuum to transfer plastic pellets and flour or sugar into their tankers.

Residents claim the company is violating Hamilton County noise level regulations.

Last month, several residents packed council chambers and urged leaders to sue to stop the problem.

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E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.