Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Living in a suburban subdivision means the greater good must prevail.
After six-plus years of writing, I’m still confounded by exactly what will set some readers off. For example, I thought the column where I rewrote the Ten Commandments would require me to hire bodyguards, but the actual response was rather muted. On the flip side, one paragraph of a relatively benign column unintentionally antagonized the entire Elgin Police force so much that I now drive like a saint through that city. And unless you’re masochistic, I would advise against suggesting any improvements to your hometown summer festival. Even when readers do get going on any particular topic, you can pretty much count on the impassioned responses dying out after a couple of days. Except when it comes to fire pits. The column in question was …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Batavia's City Council splits 8-6, but votes to allow open burning—including fire pits—within 15 feet of any flammable structure.
A new ordinance approved by a vote of 8-6 by the Batavia City Council on Monday reduces the distance required between an open fire and a flammable structure. Open burning must be 15 feet from any structure, down 10 feet from original required distance of 25 feet. The city has not changed the 25-foot distance that should separate an open fire from a nearby residence. Batavia's open-burning ordinance was one of the models for Geneva's open-burning changes that made fire pits an allowable use. Geneva adopted the new regulations in November. According to Batavia Alderman Jim Volk, the city has received “a constant stream of complaints” about smoke coming from backyard fires. One resident requested a variance from the fire code that states that…
Monday, November 7, 2011
Geneva City Council follows through with a new set of regulations for open burning.
You can get fired up now. The controversy is over. After at least 10 months of discussion and debate, the Geneva City Council made it official Monday night, voting 6-2 to approve a new set of regulations for open burning and the use of fire pits in Geneva. Council action follows a suggestion back in February by Geneva resident Colin Campbell, who asked the city to review its open-burning ordinance, especially in regard to changes that might allow outdoor fire pits. "I am very appreciative of all of the effort the city and council have put in on this," Campbell said Monday night after the new ordinance passed without discussion. "They really did a good, thorough, professional job. Whether it passed tonight or not, I can’t thank the city and…
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Education awareness needed on dangers of wood smoke.
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Monday, November 7, 2011
To the Residents of Geneva: Tonight, Monday, Nov. 7, the Geneva City Council will be voting to pass the final proposal to legalize fire pits and outdoor fireplaces. There is much that we can do to protect ourselves from recreational wood smoke exposure, but you must be willing to speak out on behalf of your basic human rights and challenge your city's council and officials to stay the course and retain the current ban on open burning. Demand that an education and awareness program for the public be developed before such a critical final decision is made. Ask council members why they have elected not to share all of the scientific evidence with the residents of Geneva, but instead have created a rather troubling smoke screen while siding …
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Monday, October 24, 2011
Geneva City Council Committee of the Whole recommends a draft ordinance in that will regulate recreational fires.
If you've got a fire pit in Geneva, you soon may be able to use it legally—so long as you understand and obey the rules. On Monday night, the Geneva City Council Committee of Whole recommended approval of a draft ordinance that will allow fire pits and other types of "recreational burning" within city limits. The recommendation passed 7-2, with 5th Ward Alderman Craig Maladra and 4th Ward Alderman Ron Singer opposed. The revised ordinance will allow the use of portable chimenea, permanent or stationary fire pits and barbecue grills—with limits. For the full ordinance, go to this story on Geneva Patch, but here are a few of the restrictions: The fine for a violation can range from $50 to $750 and is up to the discression of the officer that…
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Want to know the details of the rules and regulations being considered in Geneva? Here is the draft ordinance recommended by the City Council Committee of the Whole. The full City Council has yet to approve the draft.
Here is the draft ordinance amending the city's open burning provisions, as presented in the Geneva City Council Committee of the Whole packet of Oct. 24, 2011: Section 307.1 Definitions: Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms as used in this chapter shall be construed according to the definitions given below: A. "Brush" means tree trunks, logs, limbs, branches and twigs. B. "Landscape waste"means flowers, grass and grass clippings, leaves, pine needles, roots, shrubbery clippings, weeds and any other significant accumulation of small landscape waste materials. C. "Open burning" means the burning of any materials outdoors. D. "Processed wood" means natural wood to which is added glue and other adhesives, paint, …
The city of Geneva will discuss its ordinances for fire pits and open burning at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Fire pits in Geneva are a burning issue, and if anything, they're getting hotter. In an open letter to Geneva aldermen, Mayor Kevin Burns and other city officials, Mark Krueger and Cheryl Kubilis argue strongly against allowing fire pits. "Tonight, you are about to embark on an extremely important decision, as whether to allow for unnecessary wood smoke pollution in the city of Geneva or NOT," the letter says. "It has been obvious from the onset of this issue that most aldermen (Ron Singer and Craig Maladra excluded) and other city officials are simply aligned with what would be considered the popular vote and not what is truly in the best interest of the community in terms of the health, safety and welfare of its residents." The letter …
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The City Council Committee of the Whole starts discussion to allow fire pits in Geneva.
I wasn't at the City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night because, well, I'm an idiot. It was the fifth Monday, and I thought I had a night off for a change. Boy, was I wrong. It turns out, the COW discussed a whole slew of important issues, including the now-infamous fire-pit-regulaton debate. As you recall from previous Patch articles, letters and Jeff Ward's cross-published column, there already has been more than a fair amount of commentary on this issue. At Monday night's meeting, aldermen directed city staff to look into creating an ordinance that would allow fire-pit use in some capacity. They also asked City Administrator Mary McKittrick, Fire Chief Steve Olson and Police Chief Steve Mexin to give them a round-number…
Laura K
10:50 am on Monday, November 19, 2012
Awesome way to point out the hypocrisy! It is something the folks should be attending to instead of the local issue of fire pits. People need to educate themselves on what really is a priority to be fixed. There is a oil refinery in Lockport highly visible from Romeoville as well I wonder what the constant burning flame there and the other residual pollution is? A good wind makes that a local … more ›