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January 30, 2007 Fire Commission Meeting
TOWN OF JACKSONPORT FIRE COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at the Town Hall
The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. by Chairman George Bagnall.
Present: Chairman George Bagnall, Supervisor Jeanne Majeski, Clerk Eileen Phetteplace.
AGENDA: Complaint regarding burning permits issued at Cave Point Estates.
Eileen read a letter submitted by Tom Maher, dated January 29, 2007 (see attachment). She also read a letter sent to Brad Bley, dated January 30, 2007 (see attached hard copy only, electronic copy not available).
Meeting open to Public Comment: Eric Wickstrom spoke, expressing concerns regarding burning occurring at Cave Point Estates. Dean Kempke and Linda McDuffee also commented regarding the burning and clean-up they were doing for Michael Peters.
Fire Chief Brad Bley stated that he thinks everything is being done properly. Burning permits are issued the day of the burn.
Motion (George/Jeanne/Passed) to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 P.M.
Respectfully submitted
Eileen Phetteplace, Clerk
Approved by
________________________________
ATTACHMENT:
J. Thomas Maher
5614 Schauer Road
Jacksonport, Wi. 54235
January 29, 2007
Dear Fire Chief Bley:
I talked with you on Monday 12/4/06, at 9:00 am explaining that I, and my neighbors, had too much to lose and asked you to stop the burning of brush and extensive piles of logs at 5548 Cave Point Estate Way (number on tree) which had occurred on Sunday Dec. 3, 2006, and again 12/10/06. You explained that this was “illegal burning” and was violating 4 laws:
- burning without a permit;
- not completely extinguishing a fire before leaving
(still hot on Monday, 12/4/06 and 12/11/06);
- person other than owner was doing the burning;
- burning in the middle of a the wooded site
(you mentioned you preferred if they burned on Cave Point Estates Way
cul de sac)
You also mentioned something about generally preferring not to allow burning on Sunday.
On Sunday 1/14/07 burning started again, I phoned you 3 times in the late afternoon and received no answer and no answering machine. The fire was still hot on Monday, 1/15/07 noon 12:15.
On Sunday 1/21/07, 1:45 pm, an 8 ft high, bonfire was burning on site. I called you, left message; called town supervisor LeClair, left message, and received no return calls as to status of the fire.
Tuesday evening 1/23/07, after the Schauer Park dock hearing at the Town Board meeting, I asked you about the burning at the site. You said you issued 1/14/07 and 1/21/07 permits, got a letter from the owner authorizing his representative to burn, said he was burning in a small clear area of site and burning small piles and small amounts at a time. I again asked you to not allow burning for we all had too much to lose. You told me you could talk to Town fire commission, talk to Town Board, or I could get the burning laws in the Town of Jacksonport changed, or go to the DNR. I asked if you would stop issuing burn permits until those recommended hearings could be had and I believe you said you’d see what you could do.
I received a notice of a hearing of the Jacksonport Fire Commission to be held re: “a complaint regarding burning permits issued at Cave Point Estates” on Tuesday, 1/30/07 2007 at 6:30 at the Town Hall. I am not able to attend the meeting that night but a number of the surrounding residents are aware of the meeting and hopefully they can appear. Please enter my letter into the record opposing this apparent dangerous situation. This site is in a densely forested area with more than 50 acres of old growth forestlands directly to the south and west of the site. These forest lands continue from the site all the way into Whitefish Dunes State Park. There are private homes on heavily wooded lots to the north, west and east of the site.
Thank you,
Tom Maher
cc: Town Clerk
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
The following are reprinted statements from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources publications:
1. Burning Regulations and Permits dated 1/28/07:
"All outdoor burning is discouraged because of air quality concerns and the forest fire hazard. Consider environmentally sound alternatives such as recycling, composting, or brush piles for wildlife."
2. Wisconsin Natural Resourses Breathing Easier 12/04 publication states: "Burn barrels and open burning are major contributors to air pollution."
3. Wisconsin Natural Resourses Breathing Easier 12/04 publication:
Kevin Kessler, DNR's Open Burning Team leader states: "In Wisconsin they [burn barrels] are the number one source of uncontrolled dioxin emissions. Open burning is the number one cause of wildfires in Wisconsin...We know it is hard for people to change their ways and open burning has been a tradition for many, Kessler says. Some habits are worth keeping but open burning isn't one of them."
Submitted by,
Tom Maher, 5614 Schauer Road, Jacksonport, Wisconsin
Archive:
November 22, 2011 Town Board Meeting
October 25, 2011 Town Board Meeting
October 10, 2011 Fire Advisory Committee
September 27, 2011 Town Board Meeting
August 23, 2011 Town Board Meeting
August 1, 2011 Jacksonport Parks Committee
July 26, 2011 Town Board Meeting
July 11, 2011 Fire Advisory Committee
June 28, 2011 Town Board Meeting
June 13, 2011 Special Town Board Meeting - Roads Discussion