Okmulgee Resident Frustrated By Noise From Nearby Plant; City And Company Promise Solutions

An Okmulgee man is considering leaving his home due to constant noise from a nearby manufacturing plant, but city officials and the company say they are working to address the issue.

Todd Franklin, who lives about a block from the CP Kelco plant, says the noise has been a problem for more than a year.

"It sounds like I live by an airport that never stops having planes land or take off," Franklin said.

Franklin describes being woken up at night by the sound, making it difficult to fall back asleep.

Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin is aware of complaints from several residents and says the city, county, and company have held multiple meetings to find a solution. One attempt involved building a wall out of shipping containers to reduce the noise, but the mayor says more work is needed.

"You still hear it, it may be changing, but they still have the silencer to put on," Baldwin said.

He also mentioned that finding the right noise-canceling equipment takes time.

"It’s not something you can go down to AutoZone and buy. It takes months of engineering to make it happen," Baldwin explained.

Franklin says he’s tried his own methods to block out the noise but with little success. He would have already moved if it weren’t for his mother living with him.

"If she wasn’t here, I would’ve left this place for the bank," Franklin said.

CP Kelco says it has ordered a muffler that should arrive in the next few weeks, and once installed, noise levels should significantly decrease. The company encourages residents to check their website, OKMupdates.com, for updates and to provide feedback.