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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA007 - letters from residents in support of banning burning leaves and against the ban Joanne Norton 2305 Broadmoor Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010 5151232-8149 October 7, 1992 Mayor Larry R. Curtis City Hall 515 Clark Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010 Dear Mr. Curtis, Once again the open burning of leaves is starting to cause air pollution in Ames, and it will get worse as more residents burn their leaves. I suggest that the Ames City Council should pasyan ordinance banning open burning within the city, just as Des Moines and Minneapolis do not allow open burning. In a segment on Channel 12 TV, the speaker suggests that a person bothered by smoke could ask the neighbor to put out the fire. This is not effective because by then the smoke is already in the air, affecting many households in the vicinity. Also, most people are reluctant to complain to a neighbor. I have chronic bronchitis. Along with many other people with respiratory problems such as asthma, I am adversely affected by smoke. I would like for Ames to follow the example of Des Moines, Minneapolis, and many other cities, with an ordinance to ban burning and thereby keep Ames air clean. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Joanne Norton 30 -Q3 April 28, 1993 -`� 4A City Council c�9 City of Ames 515 Clark St Ames , IA 50010 Dear Members of the City Council ; We strongly urge the City Council to ban all open burning within the city limits , Ames is too impacted and populated, too beautiful a city, and its air quality too precious to do otherwise . We understand that the proper and environmentally sound disposal of yard waste is a challenge to any city . Therefore, we urge the Council to create a city leaf composting area (separate from the city landfill) that would be open and free to the public . Seasonal leaf pickup for a nominal fee is another alternative . If open burning seems absolutely necessary to the city, we ask that burning be allowed only on a paid-permit basis or restricted to specified times , for example, a single day of the week. The present situation of allowing burning during almost all daylight hours is both an environmental and health hazard to all the citizens of Ames and should be discontinued. Ames is a beautiful place to live and to help keep it that way, we feel that positive steps must be taken to maintain our air quality at as high a level as possible . Thank you. signed, lllrl<< 70� B's 61 �� �e I�lbe6 + ► �! �kr�"dam 232-4Tj P 1 eons e. reo,6 LUNG LINES +he. �ollaw��n� i nor ma.�•�c�1 1}- would �o 0�rklrrmpie (3� lean9 '' I�an�ed Thank.Y0,1 all is in the air--and for C',s r.J, you can mulch or compost the thousands of Iowans the leaves to improve the with some form of lung �_; yn r' quality of your lawn and disease, that means-- garden. smoke is in the air. In Iowa communities where open am ngs For those in one of the leaf burning is still allowed, high risk categories, there those with lung conditions is little you can do other are forced to head inside to than stay indoors while escape the irritation caused Leaf burning gives off Hydrocarbons are the leaves are burning in your by the smoke. major pollutants in the unburned chemicals in neighborhood. The ALA of form of particulate matter, combustion. In leaf smoke, Iowa also recommends e Approximately one e_ in hydrocarbons, and carbon_ there are seven hydrocar- installing a new furnace every six people is suscep- monoxide. In addition to bons that are known to filter and petitioning our tibleetto_the irritating effects the chemical pollutants causes ecanceer. They adhere city government to ban_ of the smoke from burning released, mold spores are to, or help make up, the open leaf burning leaves. They include: distributed in the plume of particulate matter. the fire. These spores may PersQEW wits h aaLr." affect people with aller- Carbon monoxide com- • lndiv_iduiAJ4 wish chronic gies. bines with hemoglobin in respiratory disease the blood more readily Anyone with allergies The majority of leaf smoke than oxygen. In excessive ; •Persons with heart is fine particulate matter amounts it will rob the ; diseases which travels into the body of necessary oxygen. Pregnant women respiratory system. This Relatively low levels of Individuals who smoke material either becomes carbon monoxide can Children under six years embedded into tissues of cause dizziness, headaches, of a e the lung or is broken up and fatigue. into very small particles which can be absorbed If you're concerned about AMERICAN directly into the blood- the health of your neigh- LUNG stream. Particulate matter born and family members ASSOCIATION® may contain toxic compo- during the fall season, of Iowa nents which adhere to the there are alternatives to particles. These toxic leaf burning. You can bag hemicals may cause the your leaves and have them Volume 4, Edition 3 c greatest health threat. collected on trash day. Or, September, 1993 .. 19 I F' r" 7 November 1993 f City of Ames Ames , IA Dear Councilwoman Wirth , I am writing to request the council to consider a ban on leaf and refuse burning . Again this Fall leaf smoke has been in the air frequently . Perhaps for some people the aroma of burning leaves is pleasant , but to many it is not , to the point of causing respiratory problems . It is not easy to confront ones neighbors and ask them to stop leaf burning . Therefore , I request that the council consider acting to remedy this situation . Thank you very much for considering this request . Sincerely , Louis and Pat Banitt Ames City Council November 23 , 1993 Ames, Iowa 50010 4105 Phoenix St. Ames, Iowa 50014-3919 Subject: Burning of leaves and yard waste We feel that the practice of burning leaves and other yard waste should be stopped in Ames. A definite link has been established between smoke inhalation and disease and death. Pollution from yard fires makes outdoor activities hazardous on many nice days. The pollution often remains for many hours after fires are extinguished. Also, yard fires often contain discarded building materials as well as other wastes, this adds to the pollution problem. We find that we can handle all our yard waste with a compost crib and with special bags sold by sanitation companies. The link between smoke pollution and disease has been clearly established. Therefore, the city of Ames must protect itself from possible law suits that could result because of diseases related to smoke pollution. Sincerely, Max P. Gassman Gail E. Gassman cc: John Klaus, Ames City Attorney JACK ADAMS 11-24-1993 TO City Manager & Councils A big thank you for the completion of the Ontario bike-jogging-running path from North Dakota to Hyland Avenue. It's a welcome addition and used by .!any. Continued encouragement for steady progress on the overall bike On a completely different topic, I would guess a majority of Ames citizen would agree with ry opinion that you should not put a ban of burning leaves. Thank You ! Jack Adams 4927 TX'est Bend Ames FILED z a NOV' 2 41993 CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES, IOWA e?I 2305 Broadmoor Ames, Iowa 50010 November 26, 1993 Councilwoman Sharon Wirth City Hall 515 Clark Avenue Ames, Iowa 50010 Dear Councilwoman Wirth: From a recent article in the Daily Tribune I am pleased to see that you are looking into the issue of banning burning of yard waste. I strongly favor the banning and I urge you and the Council to take appropriate action soon. My wife wrote a letter, copy enclosed, to Mayor Curtis last year but we do not know if it had any impact. My reasons for urging the banning of burning leaves and brush is mainly a matter of pollution. Many people, including my wife, have respiratory problems that are greatly affected by smoke. There are state and national programs to reduce air pollution such as limits on emissions from motorized vehicles and second hand tobacco smoke. Other laws to reduce pollution in soils and water have been enacted and further restrictions are being considered. A clean environment is one of our major issues. Yet, Ames is lagging on one of the most obvious local pollutions, namely burning of yard waste. It is not just a neighbor that affects adjoining property but burning a mile or two away is often bad. During some mild days we cannot even keep our windows open because someone is burning yard waste. Most people are considerate enough of others not to burn yard waste, but those who do burn can make it miserable and unhealthful for many. I strongly urge you and the Council to take strong action by prohibiting burning of yard waste at all times. Thank you for your consideration. Si erely, 6C, C % Don C. Norton �� Sooio - �5ao GU dw1 cw, LLf,LA/-"� Y-kc&i6 ,�/�-„�9,0,� 2x�v`cL �- b(.,LcL���C, 7�• /Le' �_Q�'l� , �i q-&-ki 10—clou kkAL � bt `�'`�"�`� ,e -u, a�vtcQ V/u Oil FILED !"""..'-. �.�..� April 21, 1994 1994 APR 2 1 To: Mayor and City Council Members, CITYCITY Of CLERK City of Ames Fr: Frances Antonovitz � Daniel Otto-�:� 1225 Orchard Dr. Ames Ia. Re: Leaf Burning in Ames We are writing to urge the city to take action to ban leaf burning within the city limits. Ames has too many trees and too many residents to allow open leaf burning within the city. On several occasions this spring, leaf burning has caused a cloud of smoke over the city as calm winds prevented the dispersal of smoke. For people without asthma, the smokey aroma may just be a bit more intense, but not a real bother. However for people with asthma, these smokey evenings can trigger full scale asthma attacks, cause breathing problems, coughing and vomiting spells, and sleepless nights for the entire family. As parents of a 4 year old with asthma who has suffered these symptoms through two spells this spring, we think open leaf burning is a very selfish act and is a wanton disregard for the rights and safety of asthma sufferers of all ages. We don't think we are alone in regarding leaf burning as a major problem. According to Dr. Edward Nassif, asthma/allergy specialist at McFarland Clinic, up to 15 percent of the general population suffers from some form of asthma and/or allergies and are susceptible to breathing problems from leaf burning pollution. If more information is needed on the effects of leaf burning pollution on asthma sufferers , call the American Lung Association at 1-800-362-1643 . A city as large and as progressive as Ames has no business still allowing leaf burning within the city. If options to leaf burning and bagging are needed, perhaps the city could look into more yard waste drop off dates in the fall and spring as well as additional composting sites. However we think the real issue is the health and well being of children and adult asthma sufferers, not least cost leaf disposal . Nor is this a matter for majority rule because health and well-being are at stake. We urge you to take necessary steps to stop leaf burning in Ames by this fall . August 23, 1994 pry Or a Ames City Council City Hall Ames, I A 50010 Dear City Council members: understand you will be considering a ban on leaf burning. Please do pass a ban so we can have air that we can breathe at all times. I realize there are some who are concerned about the cost of disposal, the inconvenience, etc., but I think having clean air to breathe is the most important issue here. There are many people who have asthma, allergies, and respiratory problems that this can be a serious health concern. I have experienced being in my house with windows closed and smoke in the area penetrated enough that I felt my breathing passages start to constrict. It is scary when there is no place to go. Sincerely, 9 Bernadette Siebert 213 14th Street Ames, I A 50010 SEP 994 1 /0 2513 Northwood Dr. Ames, Iowa 50010 September 12, 1994 Members of the City Council City of Ames 5th & Clark Ames, Iowa 50010 Dear Council Members: Burning leaves is not neighbor-friendly or healthy. We encourage the city to develop a fall leaf pick -up, mulching, clean-up program. Sincerely, - Debbie Gitchell Bob Gitchell