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City wrestles restless topics 
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It's leaf-burning time
Possible new policies
[SEPT.
28, 2006]
Issue number two of hot topics discussed at
Lincoln City Council's committee-of-the-whole session on Tuesday was
that burning subject, leaves. With fall upon us, the council
reviewed the current ordinance that does not allow leaf burning and
how it has been working. The city banned leaf burning in 2000 to
help those who suffer with health concerns and breathing problems.
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It is illegal to rake leaves into the street. The streets department
has been issuing letters to residents believed to be raking their
leaves into streets. The leaves have caused numerous problems. They
clog street drains, and that leads to flooding in the streets. They
have also been a danger to motorists when plows have rolled the
leaves in with early snows, making the equivalent of brick walls.
The city streets department has been collecting bagged leaves for
residents the last couple of years to assist residents with leaf
removal.
To alleviate the workload on the streets department and hopefully
get the leaves under control, this year the council is considering
permitting three-day burn times.
The proposed policy:
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Burn only on concrete
or brick streets.
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Fires must be 50 feet
from any structure.
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Burning would take
place three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
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There must be an
operating water hose present.
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The fires must be
attended.
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All fires must be out
by 5 p.m.
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 The streets department would still be offering pickup on
designated days. However, the leaves must be in biodegradable bags.
These bags can currently be purchased at the hardware store, but
Streets Superintendent Tracy Jackson expects that they will become
available at other places, like the grocery stores, soon.
The same is true of landscape waste brought to the landfill; it
must be in biodegradable bags if it is left in the bags. Numerous
people have been using plastic bags and leaving them in the
landfill. If the IEPA were to find one plastic bag, it would be a
$3,000 fine, Jackson said.
The council will discuss the matter again in the near future.
[Jan
Youngquist]
City wrestles restless topics
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