By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – Due to severe dry conditions, Minnehaha County Commissioners voted unanimously to immediately enact a county-wide burn ban at their Tuesday, March 25, meeting.
Emergency Management Director Jason Gearman, and Mike Harstad, the president of the Minnehaha County Fire Chief’s Association, both recommended the ban.
On Thursday, March 20, the National Weather Service issued a “red flag alert” for the area based on lack of moisture/low humidity and high winds.
The past winter saw a historically low amount of snowfall, and so far, that lack of moisture has continued into the spring.
Gearman said he hoped spring rains would soon be plentiful, but last week, the red flag alert was to let people know that conditions exist for the risk of uncontrollable fires.
According to Harstad, so far in March, county volunteer firefighters have responded to 32 grass fires.
And, he added, in 17 instances, those grassfires were part of “controlled burns” that had gotten out of control.
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As of right now, Gearman said, the burn ban is needed.
With this ban, it was set up that it can be lifted at any time by an agreement of the Emergency Management Director (Gearman), the commission chairman (Dean Karsky) and the commission liaison to the county fire chiefs (Joe Kippley). Usually, to lift burn bans, it has to wait until a regular meeting of commissioners.
Gearman hopes conditions change soon with the usual spring rains to alleviate the need for a ban, but until that happens, it is necessary for safety.
The new burn ban applies to any open burning in the county outside of organized cities. Those municipalities have their own regulations regarding fires.
Also, the ban does not apply to burning in enclosed containers “sufficient to prohibit the escape of burning substances, sparks, flames, or hot ash.”
Harstad said he believed that receiving a ticket for unlawful burning brought a $200 fine, but that he didn’t think anyone had ever been issued such a ticket during a burn ban.
However, people have received a “stern talking to” from sheriff’s deputies when the ban has been violated, he said.
Rural residents tend to abide by a ban, as they know it is for their safety, and that if anything does get out of control, it will likely cause damage to their own property.
Apart from enacting the bans, reports were heard from four different departments at the meeting.
A summary of findings was presented from a “Job Evaluation and Compensation Study” commissioned through the Human Resources Department.
Leah Anderson gave a very detailed annual report for the Auditor’s Office.
John Parker informed the commission about happenings with the Minnehaha County Conservation District.
And Bill Hoskins told commissioners about the Siouxland Heritage Museums.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 1, at 9 a.m., in the third-floor meeting room of the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota Ave. in Sioux Falls.
