Advertisement The public hearing Monday was spurred by a six-page sample ordinance being circulated by Holmen Fire Chief Doug Schober, who seeks a unified burning code for all municipalities served by his department. The ordinance would ban burn barrels in all residential areas and limit outdoor fire rings to 36 inches in diameter. It also limits the sorts of material that could be burned, stipulating that leaves, grass clippings, branches and paper should be taken to a recycling center instead of being burned.
After hearing input from three residents at Monday’s public hearing, the town board voted 4-0 to table action on the ordinance for 30 days.
Scott Siefkes told board members he wanted to keep his 42-inch stone fire ring, which is allowed under current town regulations. “I don’t want to get fined, but it’s not like I’m burning garbage or anything,” Siefkes said.
Town Chairman Stan Hauser responded that 42 inches probably would not be a problem and that the town would not be “going out with a tape measure taping people’s fire pits.”
When the burning ordinance is brought back up for discussion, Hauser said the board could consider expanding the size regulations or “grandfathering” existing fire rings.
“I don’t want you to take away my burn barrel. I want the ability to burn brush. I want the ability to burn a barn if I tear it down,” said Earl Pedretti, who grows corn on his property in the town.
In response to Pedretti’s comments, Hauser noted that many aspects of the burning ordinance would apply only to land zoned for residential development. People could still burn tree refuse and untreated wood in agricultural areas if they obtain a burning permit.
If passed, the new burning ordinance would apply only to land served by the Holmen Fire Department, but Hauser said the board should eventually pass an ordinance that applies to the whole town. He added that the town of Onalaska should adopt a burning ordinance that “meshes” with the town of Holland, whose town board will give Schober’s ordinance its second reading in October.
Race track
At the Onalaska Town Board meeting that followed the public hearing, board member Howard Kelly said he had been approached by a group of radio-controlled car enthusiasts who seek to build a race track in the town. The group wants the town to donate about an acre of land, Kelly said, and the group would build a track and take care of the rest.
“They’ll set it up. They’ll maintain it. They’ll do everything,” Kelly said. “We take a piece of land that we don’t do anything with, and we create something where kids can go after school and drive a remote control car.”
Kelly said the remote-controled car group would be supported by ABC Hobbies, which would help provide insurance for the track. With the board’s blessing, he invited the group to give a presentation at October’s board meeting.
“It never hurts to hear them out,” Hauser said.
Clerk’s report
Town Clerk Sue Schultz said the town would not receive a recycling grant it had long used to cover the printing and distribution of its newsletter. Schultz said the grant would not be given to any municipalities in 2009, “due to an economic downturn on the national level.”
Schultz also announced the town’s operational plans for the Nov. 4 election. She expects more than 3,200 voters on that date and has hired 13 workers to cover the polls. She also noted that she has received a number of absentee ballot requests from people who were not registered to vote in the town, which adds expense.
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