BENTONVILLE — Thirty days from today, Benton County residents
will be able to apply for permits to
burn dilapidated structures and rotting
chicken houses on their property.
The process of creating and refin
ing the burn ordinance began in
March when Justice of the Peace Dan
Douglas brought forward the idea to
the county Environmental Commit
tee.
Allowing residents to burn the di
lapidated buildings will help elimi
nate fire and health hazards present
ed by the buildings, while saving tax
payers a little money.
"We have a lot of buildings that are
unsightly and unsafe," Douglas said.
"This (ordinance) gives us a means tocontrol what is being burned and to make sure something that is not supposed to be burned is not being burned."
Under the terms of the newly adopted ordinance, residents will pay a onetime $25 fee per building they would like to burn. Before the permit is approved, the building will be inspected by county Fire Marshal Will Hanna for asbestos and other materials that might prevent the building from receiving a permit.
After a burn permit is issued, the applicant will need to wait an additional 10 days and call Central Communications to check weather conditions before lighting a match, according to the ordinance.
When all is said and
burned, Hanna will once
again inspect the building
site to ensure that nothing
was burned that was not pre
viously approved.
Violators will be subjectto a $500 fine and prosecution if a state law is violated.
ÃEverybody I have talked to out in the county that has an old building are all very happy this passed,î Douglas
said. ÃThis is really a win
win for the county because
it gets rid of the buildings
and a win for the property
owners who can get rid of
them without it costing them
a fortune.î
News, Pages 1, 2 on 08/12/2009