Lee County staff to return draft no-burn ordinance to committee next month

Jeremy [no last name provided], a Lee County staff member, told the committee that a draft no-burn ordinance will be returned to the agenda next month and that he will distribute the draft for review.

The ordinance draft matters because staff said it would create an organizational framework for controlled burns so the county can act if those burns become uncontrolled and cause harm. Jeremy said previous uncontrolled burns often happened during red-flag warnings when burning was already prohibited.

Jeremy described next steps and the draft's purpose: "we were gonna have that on the agenda, but I, previously thought I was not gonna be here today, so we removed it. But we could get it back on the agenda next month. I do have a draft, prepared." He also said the goal is limited: "we're not looking to control what you're burning, we're looking to get some type of an organization within the controlled burns. So that if they turn to uncontrolled burns or whatever that we can take action on repeat offenders that don't comply with whatever we have set up."

Jeremy said he used an earlier draft "prepared years ago" from Kevin Alley's office as a foundation for the current version and that he will print and share the draft with committee members so they can prepare comments ahead of the next meeting. No formal motion or vote was taken at this meeting; the item was removed from the current agenda and will return for committee consideration next month.

Staff will present the printed draft to the committee, accept comments, and discuss possible revisions when the item returns to the agenda.