Board also discusses leaf-burning ordinance
By Gail Peckler-Dziki
Correspondent
The Silver Lake Village Board on Dec. 7 had the first reading of two ordinances that move both Salem and Silver Lake closer to becoming the consolidated Village of Salem Lakes.
Charter Ordinance 9 will change the village name from Silver Lake to Salem Lakes, when it is approved, most likely later in December.
The second ordinance that received a first reading was Chapter 519, an ordinance attaching Town of Salem territory to the village, pursuant to the cooperative agreement between the two municipalities.
Some Village Board members mentioned they received copies of these two proposed ordinances just prior to the meeting, therefore, it did not give them time for a thorough review.
Open burning issues discussed
Village Trustee Pat Dunn reportedly received several phone calls regarding the problems caused by open burning in the village.
“Open burning causes health issues for some residents,” he said. “One individual said his grandchild has asthma issues and ended up being hospitalized after a neighbor was burning.”
Village President Bruce Nopenz commented that part of the problem is the three-page ordinance the village currently uses.
“There are suggestions and the ordinance is not very clear,” he said.
“Portions of the ordinance that are clear,” he said, “like not burning leaves in the culvert, are not enforced.”
Nopenz said the village spent time and money clearing sediment created by the leaf burning in the culverts.
“The burning destroys the grass in the culverts that helps clean the water prior to the water entering the lake,” Dunn said.
The issue was tabled, since burning in culverts will not be a problem this winter.
Board members also mentioned that spring burning is less of an issue, since burning tree branches doesn’t create the dense smoke and large amount of sediment like burning leaves in the fall.
Nopenz said he wants to see a simpler and more easily enforced ordinance.
Village Trustee Eric Erickson said he believes education about burning would help.
“Burning damp leaves creates much heavier smoke,” he said. “And keeping the burning of the leaves out of the culverts and in the specified times of the ordinance would help.”
Open burning is allowed from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and nothing is to be smoldering after 7 p.m.
The afternoon is specified, since the weather conditions of wind flow should be less during that time.
When Nopenz asked about the Town of Salem ordinance, resident Phil Dziki said burning is allowed in a container.
Some residents who conduct controlled prairie burns are required to contact the Salem Fire Department prior to the burning to obtain a permit, and put the fire department on notice, in case of any issues.