Council members will take another stab at a proposed burning ban Monday, aiming to combat what some say is both a livability and safety issue. This time, however, council members say they will propose a leaf-burning restriction rather than overall ban.
Councilman Larry Hargett said he will propose that burning only be allowed on Wednesdays and Saturdays, in order to strike a compromise between residents who want to burn their yard debris and those that are bothered by the resulting smoke.
“That way people who have a problem with the smoke know what days (burning will occur) and fire departments can staff up and be ready,” he said.
Another idea is to prohibit burning within a certain distance from people who have legitimate health issues and allergies to the smoke.
“If there is a known problem, people could not burn around that house,” Hargett said. “We have not figured out how to do that (yet).” He said the ideas for ban restrictions have come from area fire chiefs.
Councilman Richard Rosebrock, also a proponent of burning restrictions, said he will propose that burning not be allowed within 300-400 feet of residents who have health issues.
“It would have to go before the lawyers and make sure it can happen,” Rosebrock said. “It’s worth trying to get something going.”
The ordinance that was voted down 5-2 in June would have imposed a burning ban on smaller lots of 14,500 square feet or less.
Rosebrock said that many residents have complained about being “smoked out” of their homes due to burning leaves, especially residents with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Hargett said a child in his King’s Grant subdivision has had to be brought to the hospital due to complications from the smoke of neighbors’ leaf burning. He stated at last month’s meeting that this was the biggest issue he has dealt with on council.
Rosebrock said he will also suggest Monday that subdivision Homeowners’ Associations to take up the issue and ban burning for residents living in more heavily-populated areas.
“We’ll try and work on them,” Rosebrock said. “We are going to have to make some changes (so) that we can help the people that are in the really crowded subdivisions.”
Rosebrock is determined to provide relief to residents, even if his new ideas are voted down.
“If that doesn’t do it, we’ll keep it in committee until we satisfy the situation,” Rosebrock said.
The Public Safety Health and Safety committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on July 6 at Summerville County Council Chambers, 500 N. Main Street. The regularly scheduled council meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Public comments are encouraged at the beginning of the meeting.

Contact Jenny Peterson at 873-9424 ext. 216 or JPeterson@journalscene.com.