Mariel Williams
editor@mitchellnews.com
Spruce Pine Fire Chief Josh Boone told the Town Council last week that a new county ordinance allowing for local burn bans has been helpful.
Shortly after Mitchell County instituted its first burn ban under the new ordinance the North Carolina Forest Service announced a state-wide burn ban that remains in effect as well.
“(The county ordinance) gives the fire marshal authority to institute a burn ban,” Boone said.
Boone has been asking local governments for a burn ban ordinance in order to have the authority to tell local property owners to put out fires they have set under unsafe conditions.
“People don’t use their best judgment all the time, but this gives us a little authority to go persuade them,” Boone said. “If it’s the first time, you could go warn them.”
Council Member Jackie Rensink asked if Boone has any specific recommendations for protecting against forest fires.
“I’m a little paranoid about wildfire and all this debris on the road — are there any suggestions?” Rensink said. “I mean, it would take a lot of money to clean up.”
Boone said efforts are underway to find funding to control the debris.
“It is a growing concern for everybody, as the (debris) material dries,” he said. “Spring fire season’s already here — it’s early, so we’re hitting it. Fall fire season’s really scaring me.”
National Day of Prayer
The council approved a request to use the Pocket Park in downtown Spruce Pine for an observance of the National Day of Prayer. Previous observances have been in Riverside Park, which is still closed with flood damage.
The National Day of Prayer will be May 1. The Pocket Park is located on Lower Street (Locust Avenue).
Cash-flow loan application
The council approved a request from Finance Manager Christy Young to apply for a $2.8 million cash-flow loan from the state.
“The state is allowing us, as a municipality in the counties of North Carolina that was affected by the disaster, to have an interest-free cash flow loan,” Young said.
If the loan is approved, Young said, the town can also keep the money in an interest-accruing bank account and keep all interest earned.
“It’s designed to help us have some cash flow while we’re waiting for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) reimbursement,” she said. “And right now we’re in desperate need of that because we’ve incurred a lot of costs.”