Committee moves noise-enforcement changes for Clemson-area fraternities; considers listing Tannerite in fireworks rules

Oconee County's Law Enforcement, Public Safety, Health and Welfare Committee on the committee's special meeting voted to send revised noise-related ordinances to the full County Council after representatives described enforcement steps focused on Clemson University fraternities and on reducing disturbance complaints.

The committee's discussion centered on enforcement practices, outreach and closer coordination with Clemson University. Mr. Root, a Sheriff's Office representative, told the committee that deputies have been retrained on the county's noise ordinance and on an objective decibel standard the county added a few years ago to reduce inconsistent enforcement. "The noise ordinance has been getting a lot of attention," Root said, adding that the county currently has "about 10 10 to 11 fraternities" that draw most complaints, with "6 down at the Pier, Apartment Village Complex" and "another 4 or 5" near Seneca.

Root described steps the Sheriff's Office said it is taking before the fall semester: delivering brochures outlining relevant county ordinances and hours, recording a public-facing podcast, and requiring fraternities to register planned events so deputies have event locations and contact persons. "That registration process... gives us, 1, the locations of these events as well as the number of events... and it also gives us... sometimes sober persons ... to contact" if deputies respond, he said. Root said deputies will measure noise with decibel meters at complainants' locations and will photograph and document violations such as open containers and underage drinking to share with Clemson's conduct review process.

Committee members discussed legal and practical limits of local authority. A member requested that staff consider adding "Tannerite" — a binary explosive target product discussed in the hearing — to the county's fireworks provision (noted in the ordinance as "section 12-34, item 9") so the ordinance specifically addresses that activity. Root described Tannerite's effect: "It can rattle the windows in your home" when detonated near residences; a speaker suggested considering a yardage limit such as 100 yards from homes.

The committee also reviewed related ordinances and programs. Staff said the blanket trespass authorization program was revised to require property/business owners, not the county, to purchase and install no-trespassing signs; that approach follows how Seneca handles signs. Committee members noted the distinction that a blanket trespass is a program rather than an ordinance and that the county does not have the same towing authority on private property as municipalities.

Action: a committee member moved to send the revised ordinances discussed — noise, public nuisance language and related drafts — to the full County Council; the committee voiced unanimous assent. The committee also asked staff to send proposed wording on Tannerite to county counsel for review and to continue outreach with Clemson University staff. No ordinance text was adopted at this meeting; the action forwarded drafts to the council for further review.

Why it matters: Residents near Clemson-area fraternity houses have repeatedly raised noise and safety concerns; the committee's steps aim to combine objective enforcement tools with university conduct review to address off-campus incidents and reduce recurring complaints.

Details noted in the meeting: the Sheriff's Office emphasized training for newer deputies, use of decibel meters, event registration for fraternities, coordination with Clemson University's code-of-conduct review (via a process staff said would forward documented incidents to the university), and a possible targeted amendment to section 12-34(9) to name Tannerite alongside fireworks.