In the latest edition of my newsletter, "Summerville Scenes", I had written about how Dorchester County was set to pass a new ordinance pertaining to the burning of leaves and other yard debris. After a good bit of heated debate, the ordinance was to limit leaf burning to those homeowners who had a third of an acre of more. (For the full story visit http://www.summervillerealestateonline.com/Newsletter/page_2165076.html and click the Jan-March 2009 edition)
Since that writing however, the debate has sparked anew with many residents claiming it would create too much of a burden for those who would no longer be allowed to burn since the county does not pick up and haul leaves and trash.
Council is now considering revising the ordinance to limit burning within 75 feet of another house. Opponents contend that even at this distance, the smoke which supposedly releases toxic fumes can still be seen and smelled a good distance away. According to the Post and Courier in an article posted on November 10th 2008, even "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health and Environmental Control have been encouraging residents to burn less".
This is a topic that has been revisited many times by Dorchester County Council and if the ordinance does not pass or is tabled, it's sure to come up again. One solution of course, would be to have leaf hauling services made available to residents, however, that would most likely mean a tax increase.
Yet with leaf burning posing both fire safety and health hazzards, isn't that something that council should be exploring? Perhaps leaves and yard debris could be picked up only two or three times a year with the schedule published well in advance giving residents time to rake and bag. ( That's how it was done in one county that I had lived in previously.)
How much of a tax increase would we be talking about here? Perhaps if it's a modest increase, residents would be ok with that since it is a safety and health issue.
Obviously, there are no easy answers here or this issue would have been settled long ago. But if it is one that constantly resurfaces, then it seems that County Council should work to find a compromise that most can live with (since there's no pleasing everyone!).
For additional information or to find out when this issue will next be discussed at county council meetings visit the Dorchester County website at dorchestercounty.net/.
Maria Pettis
Realtor, e-Pro
Century 21 Properties Plus, Inc
118 W. Richardson Ave.
Summerville, SC 29483
Maria@MariaPettisHomes.com
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Do not copy or reproduce without express written permission of the author.