From staff reports

news@joplinglobe.com

Joplin residents will be able to get burn permits at their neighborhood fire stations again.

The option to buy the permits at the fire stations had been changed to require that they be sold in the finance department at City Hall.

But, a City Council member, Bill Scearce, asked if the policy could be changed to make acquiring a permit more convenient since the finance department office is closed on weekends and a visit there requires a trip downtown.

The council discussed the issue at its informal meeting Monday night and a majority favored returning the service to fire stations.

Fire Chief Gary Trulson told the council that residents do have options for getting rid of leaves and yard debris other than burning and it is preferred that residents use the other methods because of the risk of a fire spreading or smoke disturbing neighbors.

One option is to rake the leaves and leave them at the curb for city pickup. That service will begin Dec. 1. Another is to put yard debris out for trash pickup or to take the debris to a solid-waste disposal site.

Leaves also can be recycled. Information about recycling can be obtained by calling the city’s recycling coordinator, Mary Anne Phillips, at (417) 624-0820, ext. 501.

Burn permits will be available at fire stations starting Monday. Permits cost $5 and are good for three consecutive days, starting on the day of purchase. They will be available at fire stations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Residents must use a check or money order to pay for the permits at the fire stations; cash cannot be accepted.

The permits also will still be available at the finance department on the third floor of City Hall, 602 S. Main St. That office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The City Hall location will accept payment in the form of cash, check, debit card, money order or credit card. Information about the permits can be obtained by calling (417) 624-0820, ext. 241.

Residents must still call the fire department to ask if burning is allowed at the time they wish to burn due to weather conditions at (417) 623-0403.

“Residents should call each and every day prior to burning,” the fire chief said in a statement issued by the city. “The Fire Department makes this determination early in the day to allow our residents time to complete their yard work. Although residents may have the burn permit, it is not a guarantee that the weather conditions will be favorable for burning. We evaluate wind speed, storm movements, humidity and precipitation in our decision to allow burning.”

City ordinances allow only residential burning and burn piles are limited to 3 feet or less in diameter and 2 feet in height. The burn pile must be located at least 50 feet from a house or building.

Residents must stay with the debris while it is burning and have a fire extinguisher or garden hose handy.