Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council requests ordinance to ban burning leaves

Prescott City Council members are slated to discuss a proposed ordinance that will ban the burning of leaves inside the city limits. With three dissenting votes, council members voted to have Prescott City Attorney Glen Vasser draw up the ordinance for consideration at the January council meeting.

The issue was raised by Councilman Howard Austin who cited several recent days during which smoke hung in the air from the fires around town.

We need to do something, Austin said.

I can tell you thats opening a can of worms, said Prescott Mayor Howard Taylor.

After some discussion about the burning of leaves by residents inside the city limits, a motion was made to ask Vasser to draw up an ordinance for consideration at the January meeting.

Council member James Cornelius made his position clear when it was his turn to vote.

Absolutely not, Cornelius said. No.

Council member Ann Stockton, who is leaving the council effective Dec. 31 and will be replaced by Elaine Williams, also voted against the ordinance, as did the councils newest member, Robert Loe.

The city has a piece of equipment that will pick up leaves. The problem, according to Taylor, is that the equipment only works well when the leaves are dry. Wet leaves tend to clog the mechanism, he said.

Another option available is to haul the leaves to Hines Trucking, located near Interstate 30. That company has a system for chopping and processing leaves and limbs. According to information from Hines, theres no charge for dropping leaves but there cant be trash in the mix - including trash bags. Anyone who hauls their leaves in bags must empty the leaves and take the bags with them.

After the discussion regarding the leaves, the talk turned to fireworks. Austin said hed had calls on the subject and said the city should do something.

Stockton suggested that the city designate a spot where fireworks could be discharged, eliminating their use elsewhere in the city.

What can we do? Austin asked of Taylor, who said that some cities have banned their use and designated an area for fireworks.

Cornelius said he would not be in favor of enacting a law that means a property owner cant discharge fireworks at his own home.

Its their property, Cornelius said. He said he could see limiting the use, but not eliminating the right to discharge fireworks.

Its only once or twice a year, said council member Susie Meeks.

It goes on for two weeks before and two weeks after, Stockton said.

Baker said it has been his experience that the bottle rockets generate the most complaints.

Taylor suggested each board member handle your own ward.

The council took no action, but some council members asked that the situation should be resolved.

Finally, councilman Gary Lowdermilk asked that the city begin condemnation proceedings on the property located at Olive and Second streets. The board unanimously approved the action, setting the wheels in motion for the city to be able to eventually clean up the lot.