Harlan Kirgan
A ban on burning in rural St. Landry Parish subdivisions passed in June is on the Parish Council’s Wednesday agenda.
And this time the agenda item is for repeal of the ban at the meeting scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Old City Market, 131 W. Bellevue St., Opelousas.
The burn ordinance was placed on the agenda for repeal by a 3-2 vote of the Council’s Administrative-Finance Committee at a Sept. 4 meeting.
Voting for another vote on the burn law were Council members Vivian Olivier, Ken Marks and Nancy Carriere. Voting against bringing the ordinance back up were Council members Timmy Lejeune and Dexter Brown.
Wayne Ardoin, as committee chairman did not vote, but said, “We all got phone calls about it. I think we should have left that alone — the whole thing about the burn ban.”
Jerry Red, Council chairman, said he brought the issue and it passed unanimously.
“I think it is good ordinance,” he said.
But Red added the Council should “pull” the ordinance if it is not comfortable with it.
Garett Duplechain, Council attorney, said the ban has exceptions for fireplaces, store-bought fire pits and wood.
Council member Mildred Thierry asked if she could burn papers in a barrel and added she does so.
Her request for an allowance for barrel-burning fell by the wayside as the committee moved to considering repealing the law.
Violating the burn ban ordinance is a misdemeanor with a fined up to $500 and up to a 30-day sentence, or both.
At a Public Works Committee meeting in July, Stephanie Quebedeaux and Stephanie Tyrrell commented on the burn ban.
Quebedeaux said, “You put it to the road and they never come to pick it up” in questioning the ban on burning.
“I think this burn ban is ridiculous,” she said, also questioning the difference between burning wood in a fireplace and in the yard.
Tyrrell said, “I’m in favor of the ban or some form of ordinance to limit or curtail the ability to burn.”
Open burning poses a health risk and state law is permissive, she said.
Louisiana ranks 50th among the states in quality of health and St. Landry ranks 57th among the 64 parishes in its health quality, he said.
Breathing is a necessity. Burning is not a necessity,” she said.
Tyrrell, who said she has a master’s degree in environmental science, said most people do not need to burn, but she has seen people burning trash, mattresses, furniture and plastic.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, an ordinance to govern groups homes is back on the agenda.