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County residents fired up over burn ordinance
Joe Benedict/Staff Writer
Several county residents were on hand at the Lee County Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to express concern about a possible ordinance to make people holding controlled burns call local fire departments before doing so.
The supervisors passed the first reading of the ordinance, which would make it a misdemeanor if a fire department was called to a controlled burn and the fire department had not been notified. The second reading on Tuesday was tabled because several of the supervisors had fielded calls from residents asking the board to hold off on the ordinance.
Brian Dobson was one of the people at the meeting to discuss the ordinance. He said the reason so many calls are coming in is because practically everyone has a cell phone and that drivers passing by see smoke and instantly call the fire department.
Dobson said what would be better than making a criminal offense out of the issue is if farmers would voluntarily contact local fire departments when they are going to hold a controlled burn. Then when someone calls them on their cell phone they can tell them it isn't a wildfire.
Dobson also said sometimes he is planning to burn something the next day and he goes to do it and conditions are not right. It may be a hassle to know exactly when something is going to get burned and have time to notify the authorities.
Getting the information out there to do that may be a hurdle. The supervisors said newspaper articles (like this one) can help, along with radio reports.
John Sander of Farmington, who also is the Lee County Farm Bureau president, said maybe that organization could help with some direct mailings to local farmers to ask them to call local fire departments before burning.
Supervisor Larry Kruse said the intent of the ordinance isn't to criminalize open burning, it is merely to cut down on the time wasted by volunteer firefighters, who often have to leave their jobs or drop what they are doing to run to a brush fire that is under control.
Supervisor George Morgan said he had some calls asking about recreational fires such as bonfires. He said no one's weenie roast fire is going to cause a person to get a $500 fine.
The supervisors plan on discussing the ordinance further at next Tuesday's meeting. The discussion will be held during the workshop after the regular meeting - meaning no action will be taken.
In other business, the supervisors agreed to sell a property in Keokuk to the City of Keokuk. The county had come into possession of the old Coastal gas station at 19th and Main Street through a tax deed. They are selling the building and land to Keokuk for $1. The supervisors said the city will take responsibility for any environmental issues that arise from the land.
The city most likely will raze the old gas station, which is becoming an eyesore in the city.
The supervisors also worked closer to a final budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year during a budget workshop. The board looked at the possibility of lowering the levy for the CPC office because the estimated ending fund balance for that office would be at about 26 percent of the total budget.
Several county residents were on hand at the Lee County Supervisors meeting on Tuesday to express concern about a possible ordinance to make people holding controlled burns call local fire departments before doing so.
The supervisors passed the first reading of the ordinance, which would make it a misdemeanor if a fire department was called to a controlled burn and the fire department had not been notified. The second reading on Tuesday was tabled because several of the supervisors had fielded calls from residents asking the board to hold off on the ordinance.
Brian Dobson was one of the people at the meeting to discuss the ordinance. He said the reason so many calls are coming in is because practically everyone has a cell phone and that drivers passing by see smoke and instantly call the fire department.
Dobson said what would be better than making a criminal offense out of the issue is if farmers would voluntarily contact local fire departments when they are going to hold a controlled burn. Then when someone calls them on their cell phone they can tell them it isn't a wildfire.
Dobson also said sometimes he is planning to burn something the next day and he goes to do it and conditions are not right. It may be a hassle to know exactly when something is going to get burned and have time to notify the authorities.
Getting the information out there to do that may be a hurdle. The supervisors said newspaper articles (like this one) can help, along with radio reports.
John Sander of Farmington, who also is the Lee County Farm Bureau president, said maybe that organization could help with some direct mailings to local farmers to ask them to call local fire departments before burning.
Supervisor Larry Kruse said the intent of the ordinance isn't to criminalize open burning, it is merely to cut down on the time wasted by volunteer firefighters, who often have to leave their jobs or drop what they are doing to run to a brush fire that is under control.
Supervisor George Morgan said he had some calls asking about recreational fires such as bonfires. He said no one's weenie roast fire is going to cause a person to get a $500 fine.
The supervisors plan on discussing the ordinance further at next Tuesday's meeting. The discussion will be held during the workshop after the regular meeting - meaning no action will be taken.
In other business, the supervisors agreed to sell a property in Keokuk to the City of Keokuk. The county had come into possession of the old Coastal gas station at 19th and Main Street through a tax deed. They are selling the building and land to Keokuk for $1. The supervisors said the city will take responsibility for any environmental issues that arise from the land.
The city most likely will raze the old gas station, which is becoming an eyesore in the city.
The supervisors also worked closer to a final budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year during a budget workshop. The board looked at the possibility of lowering the levy for the CPC office because the estimated ending fund balance for that office would be at about 26 percent of the total budget.
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scooter wrote on Feb 7, 2008 10:44 AM: