Jefferson residents are reminded that open burning of yard waste is allowed within city limits.

City Administrator Scott Peterson says open burning is permitted from sunrise to sunset and is only allowed on private property.

“The fires need to be monitored then at all times and again, that this needs to occur on private property. So not on the sidewalk, not on the city parking area, this does need to occur on your own private property.”  

Violation of the city’s open burning ordinance can result in a citation. Peterson points out an alternative to burning yard waste is that residents can take those items to the dump site at Daubendiek Park.

“Our residents pay every month for this and we encourage folks to get down to that site and utilize it. It’s an easy way for the residents to be able to dispose of the yard waste, and of course we always encourage our residents (to) keep the properties up and keep them looking pretty good, and attend to your properties and encourage folks to keep that up and really the nice community that Jefferson is.”  

Public Works Director Dave Morlan says since the start of the current fiscal year this past July to last month in March, about $73,000 has been spent grinding the materials at the yard waste dump site.