SULPHUR — A large number of those gathered at the Sulphur City Council meeting Monday night will have to wait another month to learn how or if their noise issues will be resolved.

The Sulphur City Council voted 3-1 to table a resolution that would have suspended Quaker Steak and Lube’s band permit.

The item was sponsored by District 5 Councilman Stuart Moss in response to the signatures of 30 residents of the Summerwood subdivision located across Cities Service Highway from the restaurant. The residents on the list lodged complaints that the noise from bands playing in the restaurant’s parking lot on Thursdays and Saturdays is so loud it is rattling the windows of their homes.

Councilman Randy Favre presented the resolution on behalf of Moss, who was not at the meeting, and requested that it be tabled until the August meeting. “Stuart (Moss) has met with the owners and worked out a compromise,” Favre said by way of explanation. “But there are still some things that need to be decided on.”

Councilwoman Dru Ellender was the only dissenting vote to the request to table.

The council approved an introduction of an ordinance setting forth property tax millage rates for 2016. The rates, to be considered in a public hearing at 5 p.m. July 18, are a decrease from those approved in 2015. A proposed general rate of 5.42 mills is down from the current 5.52 mills. Fire and street maintenance millage rates, currently at 5 mills each, are proposed at 4.91 mills.

The council also set forth new utility fees. July residential water bills will reflect an increase of $1.64. Sewer fees are up by $1.81 and trash collection fees have gone up 55 cents. Residents will likely see another increase to their water bills reflected on August statements. Mayor Chris Duncan announced the state Department of Environmental Quality is increasing annual water-testing fees by $12 per resident. Duncan said the amount is subject to change. The council agreed to introduce the DEQ’s official increase at the July 11 meeting and vote on it at the special meeting called for July 18. The new charges would go into effect Aug. 1.

The council also approved a zoning request that was rejected by the city’s Land Use Commission at their May meeting.

The request by Ellis Hassien of Hassien Properties was for a rezone from business to commercial of properties at 226 and 228 South Cities Service Highway. Hassien told commissioners last month he planned to sell the properties to a hotel developer. Commissioner Lawrence David expressed concern that the buyer may decide to build a bar rather than a hotel on the property. The commission voted 3 to 1 against the request.

When the item came before the council, the issue of the potential for a bar being placed there was addressed again. It was determined the council could put a stipulation in place that the property would be zoned commercial but that a “stand-alone bar” was prohibited from being placed on the site. The council passed the rezoning unanimously.

The next meeting of the Sulphur City Council will be at 5:30 p.m. July 11 in Council Chambers at 500 N. Huntington St.