08-22-1977 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REG�LAR �IEETING OF THE ORONO COUNCIL, AUGUST 22 , 1977 Page 29 '�I have reviewed Mr. Dennis Kilbane' s letter to BIG ISLAND FIRES the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency dated (Continued) �uly 15 , 1977, in which he presents the problem. � he island is almost 100$ privately owned with the exception of two parcels of land. One is • a 50 plus acre parcel owned by the Hennepin County Park Reserve and another 54 acre parcel • owned by the Veteran' s Administration and operated by the Veteran! s of Foreign Wars. � I have reviewed the letter from P.C.A. to you dated July 22 , 1977, in which the P.C.A, stated the problem should be addressed by adoption of � a local ordinance on open burning. It mentions • the ordinance would have to follow strictly APC-8 but could add additional control such as requiring a permit for recreational , fires. On August 7, 1977 , I talked to John Christian of the Hennepin County Park Reserve District, 473-4693. He indicated the Park Reserve already has an ordinance coverning fire which states, � "it is unlawful for any person to: start a fire . in a park, except in a designated area, and then only in fire rings, portable stoves or grills" . I checked with the League of Cities and received �hree ordinance copies, all dealing with pro- ibition of fires in parks. The representative � knew of no ordinance prohibiting or restricting • fires on pri�vate property. . I spoke to Representative Jim Rice ' s office (Chairman of House Committee on General Legis- lation and Veteran' s Affairs) . This group took a tour of Big Island August 17, 1977, on a fact � finding mission relative to the Department of Veteran' s Affairs taking over the Big Island � Veteran' s Camp. This office stated that there would be no substantial change in operations if and when the Department of Veteran' s Affairs takes over. This leaves this area of the island a private area. � This then brings us to the problem at hand. Even if the City of Orono were to adopt an ordinance requiring a permit for open burning, first, it � would not apply to 50 acres of land owned by • the Hennepin County Park Reserve; second, an ordinance restricting recreational fires on , private property would be difficult to enforce, and might be discriminatory; third, current laws such as "Trespass" probably cover most of he recreational fires that are a problem now; forth, the Department of Veteran' s Affairs will probably restrict burning to burning only in designated areas on their property by their guests. Based on these facts, I recommend no changes in our ordinances.'s (Continued)