WINONA – The Mayor and Board of Aldermen discussed the city’s current burn ordinance, which caused some confusion during the January 16 meeting. City attorney Adam Kirk provided the board with a better explanation as to what the law says.
According to Kirk, the city’s burn ordinance, which was amended in February 2019, it is unlawful for anyone outside an agricultural zone to burn anything other than yard waste, which is described as grass, leaves, and branches that are no larger than three inches in diameter.
It is illegal for anyone to burn treetops, stumps, tree roots, or tree trunks in the city limits, with the exception of areas zoned agricultural.
“It makes no difference who you are,” Kirk said. “This [burn ordinance] applies to everyone the same [residents and servicemen].”
Kirk also discussed the city’s current ordinance, regulating dumping trash in the city’s bins at the city barn. Kirk said currently, the ordinance only states that “dumpster diving” is illegal. It does not state when dumping is allowed, and what time of items can and cannot be dumped.
The board decided to table the discussion for further investigation into the matter now that fencing has been erected around the city barn to better regulate those using the bins. The city also plans to use surveillance cameras to stop people from taking advantage of the service and dumping illegal items like construction materials and kitchen garbage. They also want to prevent trash being dumped on the ground around the bins.
In other city business:
• Code Enforcement Officer and Animal Control Officer Arlin Pearson informed the board that falsely claiming that a dog being house in the Winona Animal Shelter can be punished by a petty larceny charge. He explained that last week, he had eight people claim they owned the same dog.
• The city approved all bids to commence with the HOME grant.
• Kathryn Allman presented the city with an example Smoke-Free ordinance if the city wanted to adopt one. A Smoke-Free ordinance would only ban smoking inside public places, not inside of vehicles or private homes. The board took the ordinance under advisement.
• The board hired Savion Gross and Jalen Daniels to work for the Winona Park Department.
• Park Director Mike Narmour announced that recreational baseball and softball signups will begin next week.
