A burn ban ordinance could soon be repealed in St. Landry Parish, just months after it was first passed.
The ordinance went into effect in May to prevent fires from spreading in rural sub-divisions. If caught, neighbors can face a $500 fine. Now, some say the trash is just pilling up. The concerns are causing the council to reconsider.
"It's fall, so trees and leaves are falling off. People are trying to clean up their yards, " James Fontenot said. Fontenot says the burn ban is making it harder to get rid of debris like tree branches and wood.
The debris can be picked up, but there is a delay because Waste Solutions needs special equipment to pick up that debris.
"People are really not in favor of the burn ban in certain areas," Councilman Wayne Ardoin said. "It's because of the fact that they can take their limbs in the backyard, burn them and not cause any problems for anyone . Some people will put the limbs in their front yard and it takes 2 months for them to be picked up."
Ardoin says another problem is that the ordinance doesn't specify what's considered a rural sub-division. "We heard complaints," Ardoin said. "We're going to try and repeal it and go back to the drawing board. Work with solid waste and maybe repeal it. We're possibly working with solid waste where as they can possibly come around certain times and come with a grapple truck. That way limbs can be picked up and disposed properly."
The council will hold a public hearing on the repeal of the ban next week.
