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Last updated on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Commissioners adopted a burn ban policy Tuesday morning.
The ban will be activated in drought conditions in cooperation with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department and fire department chiefs.
There are two bun ban levels that can be activated:
Level 1:
Campfires and other recreational fire, unless enclosed in a fire right with dimensions of 23 inches in diameter and 10 inches high or larger;
Open burning of any kind using conventional fuel such as wood, or other combustible matter, with the exception of grills fuels by charcoal briquettes or propane;
The burning of debris, such as timber or begetation, including such debris that results from building construction activities and;
Burning will be allowed with a fourth inch mesh top from dawn to dusk only.
Charcoal from permitted grills shall not be removed from the grills until the charcoal has been thoroughly extinguished.
Level 2:
No open burning of any kind.
The policy also strongly encourages resident to attend public displays of fireworks and limit their personal use of fireworks to those that do not leave the ground, and that they refrain from using aerial firework devices.
Anyone in violation of the burn ban can be issued a civil citation and fined up to $2,500 per occurrence. Any and all fines will be collected and deposited in the newly founded Lawrence County Volunteer Firefighter Training Fund.
In other business:
Officials are looking at beefing up security at the courthouses.
According to Commissioner President Chris May a committee was formed to review a recent study addressing security issues at the courthouses. The study was requested by Circuit Court Judge Andrea McCord.
The committee composed of May, Council President Jim Edwards, all three judges, Sheriff Sam Craig and Bedford Police Chief Dennis Parsley and a member of the probation department will look at the issues and try to come up with a plan to address the concerns.
Once that is done, they will hold a public meeting to inform the community of their plans.
* Chief Probation Officer Nedra Brock-Fleetwood advised the council that she has applied for a $9,918 Criminal Justice grant to purchase items to beef up security at the probation department.
"Currently there are only 4 distress buttons in the office," Fleetwood says. "The grant will allow us to purchase 25 distress buttons and allow us to put them in all the offices and add video cameras to the hallway area and parking lot."
The grant will also pay for the installation of the equipment.
* Greg Flynn asked the commissioners to allow him to file the plat work for Ridgeview Addition. The commissioners will allow Flynn to continue work on the addition, but he cannot file the paperwork until he first provides a letter of credit to the commissioners and the roads being constructed meet county regulations, been inspected and approved by the highway department.
* Tim Ray, of Williams, asked that a sign be placed at the entrance of a small dirt road that leads to his property.
Ray is having problems with vandals destroying the roadway and his property. He asked that a dead end sign or no outlet sign be placed at the entrance to possible deter motorist from entering. The commissioners approved the placement of the sign.
Ray has placed cameras on the property to take photos of the vandals. He presented some of the photos to the sheriff's department Tuesday and they are investigating.
* Highway Project Supervisor Bob Dillon reported that work at Williams Bridge is underway. Crews received approval from the state to begin construction.
He also reported repair work on Bridge No. 20, on Old Ind. 37 in the Needmore area, continues. Dillon told commissioners it is taking a little longer than expected and hopes to have the repairs complete by the end of May.
* Commissioner Bill Spreen reported he has received complaints of people dumping trash over a steep bank near the crossroads in Lawrenceport.
Spreen says when the river floods the trash is scattered all over the area. He is also concerned that items being dumped could contain toxins and are getting into the river.
He asked that a no dumping sign be posted in the area and that those caught be ticketed.
County Attorney Dave Smith said the commissioners need to review the ordinance concerning illegal dumping and update it and consider raising the fines. Smith will review the ordinance and report back to the commissioners.
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