County staff told the board that a countywide burn ban was declared on Oct. 3 because of dry weather and lack of recent rain, and staff presented authority paperwork for signatures so the commissioners could ratify or reject the declaration.

The announcement matters because a burn ban restricts open burning and other fire-related activities that can affect public safety and firefighting resources. Staff said the fire chiefs and Commissioner Thatcher requested the declaration and that a press release notifying the public had been issued.

Staff said the fire chiefs met with staff and “because of the dry weather and no rain, that a burn ban disaster was put back in place.” Staff also presented an “authority sheet” for an official (referred to as Jim in the meeting) to sign and separate signature sheets for the three commissioners so they could ratify or reject the declaration. The staff speaker told the commissioners the declaration would remain in effect until lifted.

During the discussion, commissioners and staff discussed logistics for obtaining signatures and keeping an absent commissioner informed. Staff noted that an absent commissioner (Jason) was on leave but would be available by phone and that copies of the paperwork would be delivered.

The meeting transcript records a motion being discussed to ratify the ban but does not include a clear, recorded roll-call vote or a fully transcribed final result. The transcript shows staff requesting signatures and references to a motion, but it does not capture the formal tally of aye/no votes.

For next steps, the transcript indicates staff sought signatures from the county official authorized to sign and from each commissioner; it also indicates staff will provide a copy to an absent commissioner and that the press release already had been sent.

Officials and staff quoted in this article spoke during the meeting’s agenda item on emergency declarations and public safety.

Ending — The record in the meeting transcript documents the declaration, staff presentation, and the request for signatures; the transcript does not contain a clear roll-call recording of the commissioners’ final vote on ratification.