For the past few months, the Lee County Board has been working to create a burn ordinance for people who may be irresponsible when they have a burn that gets out of control. This is for people who may ignore the dry weather or high winds.
During the Lee County Committee for Public Safety and Court Services, County Administrator Jeremy England said the ordinance is just about finished. The ordinance would apply to unincorporated areas in Lee County. England said it was based on state statutes of Life, Property and Environmental Quality of the Environmental Protection Act.
England was asked if the state has the law, then why an ordinance is needed in the county. He said with this being at the local level, if a part of the ordinance does not work, they could change it. Lee County Sheriff Clay Whelan said the local level would be more effective than relying on the state.
Everyone agreed that most people in Lee County use common sense and know they should not burn when it is dry and the wind is blowing. However, this is for those few who do not use common sense. It was decided to hold over the ordinance so it could be fine-tuned.
