Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Burn Ban topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia County adopts emergency resolution to impose temporary outdoor burn ban
Summary
Columbia County officials adopted an emergency resolution imposing a temporary ban on outdoor burning devices, other lawful outdoor burning, and certain pyrotechnics, citing drought and recent brush fires; the measure will be reviewed about every 10 days and placed on future consent agendas until conditions change.
Columbia County officials adopted an emergency resolution imposing a temporary ban on outdoor burning, including certain outdoor burning devices and sparklers, saying drought conditions and recent brush-fire activity prompted the measure.
An unnamed official read the resolution into the record, saying it is "a resolution declaring a state of local emergency and to place a temporary ban on outdoor burning devices, other lawful outdoor burning, and prohibition of the use of flared explosives and sparklers." The reader said the text includes language requested by the Florida Forestry Service and described the measure as a "temporary burn ban in the strictest sense of the word." The reader also stated, "This is a true emergency."
County officials said neighboring counties had already enacted similar bans and that local firefighters had reported an increase in brush fires. The official told the body the emergency action would be reviewed roughly every 10 days at the staff level in coordination with the Florida Forestry Service; if the consensus is to lift or change the ban, staff will bring a recommendation back to the board. Officials said the ban will be placed on the consent agenda at subsequent regular meetings until conditions improve.
A motion to adopt the resolution was made in the emergency session and seconded; the clerk called the roll. Chairman Tim McTimothy Murphy, Commissioner Rocky Ford and Commissioner Robbie Collins each voted "yes," and the resolution carried by voice/roll-call vote. A speaker noted that because this was an emergency meeting, the burn-ban resolution was the only item the body could lawfully consider. The meeting adjourned immediately after the vote.
The emergency resolution does not appear in the transcript with a fully completed ordinance/resolution number; officials said the number will be filled in and the chairman would sign it. The county indicated the measure is temporary and will be revisited on the staff schedule and later on consent agendas at regular meetings.
Next steps: staff review in about 10 days (in coordination with Florida Forestry Service) and placement on a future consent agenda if the ban remains in effect.
