It includes exemptions, alters hours for campfires
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted 6-0 in favor of both waiving the first reading of and approving an amended open burning ordinance at its Nov. 15 meeting.
The updated ordinance had been reviewed and recommended for approval earlier in the night by the Legislative and Regulatory Committee.
While it was added that no outdoor burning is allowed when wind speeds exceed 10 miles per hour, the bulk of the amendment appear under the Burn/Campfire Permit section of the ordinance.
The amended ordinance now provides an exemption that means outdoor commercially manufactured portable fireplaces, outdoor constructed permanent fireplaces and gas-fueled recreational fire pits do not require a campfire permit.
The updated ordinance now requires campfires be located a minimum of 15 feet from any occupied dwelling, wood structure or building and 10 feet from any street, alley or property line.
The ordinance also updates the stipulation that campfire pits must have a non-combustible ring of at least 12 inches high from ground level, rather than just 12 inches high.
Under the amended ordinance, the hours for allowable burning have also been updated, now set for 4-10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, from noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
The ordinance requires that applications for a campfire permit be submitted at least five business days in advance of the first fire, and all annual campfire permits will now be valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the year issued.
Single day permits cost $10, and annual use permits are available for $25.
In other business
In other business, the council also voted unanimously in favor of amending the Holidays Observed section of the City of Elkhorn Employee Handbook.
Under the updated handbook, if Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on a Friday and Saturday, then the preceding Thursday and Friday will be observed as the holidays.
If Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on a Saturday and Sunday, the preceding Friday and following Monday will be observed, and if Christmas Eve and Christmas Day fall on a Sunday and Monday, the holidays will be observed on Monday and Tuesday.
The same structure would apply for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
City Administrator James Heilman said at the Nov. 15 meeting this falls in line with Walworth County’s policy and that most of the city employees have already lined up their schedules to this format.
A motion to approve was passed 6-0.
