Fairview mayor to seek review of leaf burning ordinance

Fairview Heights Mayor Mark Kupsky said he will ask the city’s planning commission to review its leaf burning ordinance following many complaints from residents who are for both expanding and abolishing leaf burning.

Kupsky said the issue is a very sensitive and one that he believes needs to be revisited. The city already permits leaf burning on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from November through April.

An auto body shop owner in town addressed the City Council during its meeting Tuesday night and asked that the ordinance be reviewed. Chuck Bullard told the council that he and his employees at Walters Auto Body on Ashland Avenue cannot avoid the smoke that regularly drifts inside their work area from neighboring residents who burn their leaves.

Kupsky said the city has received calls from angry residents who want to be able to burn their leaves on Sundays and Mondays. He said he is concerned with the impact leaf burning has on those with health issues. He also said that he wants to make sure residents are only burning yard waste

“We want to do what is right for the overall community,” Kupsky said. “I’m going to ask the the planning commission take it under advisement and revisit it. It has been some time.”

In other City Council action, the Council approved a resolution Tuesday night calling to seek intergovernmental grants to afford repairs to the street and storm sewer along Olinda Drive. The city is requesting $30,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds from the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department. The total project cost would be $60,000.

Before the meeting began, Fairview Heights Police Chief Nick Gailius recognized four of the city’s police officers for saving a man’s life. On Oct. 13, officers William Rolland, Brandon Strickland, Timothy Birckhead and Martin Gordon responded to a car crash near the First Baptist Church and administered CPR on the unconscious driver until emergency responders arrived and resuscitated the man.

“They are the epitome of what we expect from our Fairview Heights Police officers,” Gailius said.

Kupsky also commended the officers.

“That really demonstrates the awesome job our police force does,” he said.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 2:33 PM with the headline "Fairview mayor to seek review of leaf burning ordinance."