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Committee urges review of open-burning enforcement and refers ordinance language to counsel and health officer
Summary
Members called for a review of local enforcement and ordinance language after staff reported incidents of burning cardboard, tires and a burned vehicle; the committee recommended referring the matter to corporation counsel and routing complaints through the health department (sanitarian) paired with law enforcement when needed.
County staff reported a rise in problematic open burning incidents—examples included large piles of cardboard and a recently burned vehicle—and asked the committee for direction on enforcement and ordinance language.
Staff recounted contact with the sheriff's office (Captain Kowalski) and said the county's existing recycling/solid-waste ordinance does not cover many forms of open burning (treated wood, tires, cars). "They found somebody burning a bunch of cardboard," staff told the committee when describing recent enforcement contacts and pictures taken by deputies.
Members and advisors said local enforcement authority is fragmented. Committee members recommended that the health department (sanitarian Jessica) handle site verification and that law enforcement accompany sanitarians when citation authority or safety concerns exist. One member noted DNR staff had told county staff that stronger local statutory authority or a model county ordinance (Waushara County was cited) would be needed for routine local enforcement of some open-burning complaints.
The committee recommended referring ordinance language and enforcement questions to corporation counsel and the health department for review and for the county to clarify who has citation authority and investigative responsibilities.
What happens next: corporation counsel and the health officer will review current ordinances and advise the committee on recommended changes and on whether to create a new open‑burning/refuse ordinance with clear enforcement pathways.
