A burning ban was ordered by Allen County commissioners Tuesday from a request by Sheriff Bryan Murphy.
“We had 13 grass fires over the weekend and another five (Monday afternoon) east of Humboldt,” Murphy said.
Most are attributable to dormant grass that has dried to tender quality, he said. The five east of Humboldt, along hard-surfaced Georgia Road, occurred when metal on a piece of equipment inadvertently was dragged and sent showers of sparks into grassy fields and waterways.
Murphy pointed out high winds also have been a problem and are forecast until the weekend.
Commissioners will review the burn ban each Tuesday, to decide its continuance.
At all times burning requires a call to a local fire department or the 911 center ahead of ignition. During the ban, if winds subside, Murphy (365-1400) can approve farm burns.
NO WORD ON STREETS
Allen County commissioners will decide soon what level of maintenance will be done to streets in Humbodlt for which the county is responsible.
Humboldt Administrator Cole Herder and Mitch Garner, director of Public Works, will inspect the streets, with Garner then advising commissioners.
“Let’s have Mitch tell us the best way to proceed,” said Commissioner Tom Williams.
Herder said Ninth Street “essentially has had no maintenance since 1981 — that’s 35 years,” while Bridge Street last had chip-and-seal application 10 years ago.
Humboldt council members prefer mill and asphalt overlay of the streets. The county’s preferred maintenance is chip and seal, which entails hot oil rolled over a mixture of small rocks.
All parties agreed Ninth Street, formerly a federal highway, has a base capable of holding up to heavy traffic, both in weight and frequency. Later this year Monarch Cement will start hauling dirt by the semi-load from a quarry operation north of Humboldt. That has quickened council members’ concern for the in-town portion of the thoroughfare, particularly at its intersection with Bridge where there’s a stoplight.
“It’s a given we’re going to do something,” Williams said.
“I think we at least have to look at a middle ground,” Commissioner Jerry Daniels added.
COMMISSIONERS approved a recommendation from planning commissioners to permit Nelson Quarries to expand rock mining south of the 54 Drive-In corner. They were told the expansion would ensure a rock supply for Nelson for another 20 years.
