Proposed changes in Decorah's rules on outdoor burning meet some resistance

Decorah City Council members Monday night heard from two city residents who are opposed to changes in the city's open burning ordinance.

Father Dan Knipper and former city council member Steve Matter both say allowing burning in closed containers under certain conditions would add to pollution in the air.

Knipper said he's worried about the impact the proposed changes would have on people with breathing problems.  Matter--in a letter written to the city council--echoed those sentiments, stating, "Few people want to breathe smoky air."

But city council member Andy Carlson noted that the complaints he has heard about smoky air have all come from West Side residents--and speculated the Decorah Campground had more to do with that than backyard fires.

The city council voted 7-0 to approve a second reading of the revised ordinance.  Another approval on January 4th will mean the changes in the ordinance will go into law.