Wyanet cracks down on leaf burners

WYANET — Where you burn your leaves in Wyanet could generate a fine.

Wyanet’s Village Board would like to remind all residents they will receive a citation and fine if they are caught burning their leaves in an unapproved manner.

There have been several complaints with regards to village residents burning leaves in their streets and alleys, not in proper containers, such as burn barrels.

“When they (residents) burn their leaves in the streets, alleys, all that debris is going into the village drainage system. Eventually, it could back up, causing severe and costly problems for the village. Another problem with burning on streets, in particular, is the blacktop,” said Mayor Bruce Hand. “Depending on how recent the blacktop is, by burning leaves on it, the heat causes the blacktop to bubble and break up, eventually causing potholes and cracks in the streets.”

Fines are $50 for the first citation and $100 for the second. It was stressed this ordinance will be enforced, and there will be no exceptions to the rule.

Discussion also continued at the board meeting on the issue of loose and vicious dogs, and whether to sign on with Bureau County Animal Control Services. Michael Henneberry, village attorney, agreed to handle the paperwork needed to begin the process, and he will bring it back to the board at the Dec. 8 meeting for approval.

Jessica Mackinson, partnership specialist for the 2010 Census Bureau, presented the board with information regarding the 2010 census survey. Mackinson stressed the census for 2010 is not as long as previous years, only 10 short questions, and should only take up about 10 minutes of each resident’s time.

The 2010 census questionnaires will either be mailed or delivered to households between February and March of 2010. For those residents who did not receive one by the end of March, they should be able to go into select public sites and pick up a copy to filled out.
From May through July of 2010, those residents who did not fill out a questionnaire will be visited by a census taker.

Glen Tomaszewski, an agent with Scott Brothers Insurance of Princeton, presented the board with changes in their current policy for village employees, for the following year. Tomaszewski also gave comparison quotes from other companies for the board to consider. After short deliberations, it was decided to go ahead and keep United Health Care of the River Valley (formerly John Deere) as the village employee insurance.