County rescinds burn ban

The Young County Commissioners Court voted to unanimously rescind the burn ban during their Nov. 4 called meeting. The ban had been in effect since it was placed in the Oct. 15 commissioners court meeting.

A resident, Andy Bowers, had requested a waiver so he could host a bonfire in honor of his brother-in-law in Padgett Saturday. According to the court, Bowers had plans to have the Olney Fire Department on scene and to make a $500 donation to their department for their help.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Sipes was worried if they gave a waiver to one individual, they would be setting a precedence.

“I’m not against them having a bonfire, I am against comprising our burn ban,” Sipes said. “Either lift it or have the burn ban.”

Precinct 2 Commissioner Matt Pruitt said he felt the county was going to get rain Wednesday and Thursday and made the motion to the lift the burn ban. Precinct 3 Commissioner Stacey Rogers seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

This means there is no longer a ban which prevented people from burning trash or brush or having an open campfire in any unincorporated area of the county.

The only exceptions to the ban were cooking in enclosed pits or burns authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality such as firefighter training, public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining operations, planting or harvesting of agricultural crops or burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager. Violations of the ban were a Class C misdemeanor and was punishable by a fine up to $500.

For the rest of the story, see the Wednesday, Nov. 6 edition of The Graham Leader.