Recent wind storms left fallen trees with nowhere to go

WARDEN — Warden City Council wants to help their citizens get through the burn ban after the recent windstorm.

Due to the aftermath of the wind storms, many Warden citizens are left with fallen trees and branches. The statewide burn ban prohibits burning within city limits.

"In a case like this, the city should be able to help out," Mayor Roldan Capetillo said. "We've always burned here. It's not like we've gotten to the point where its gotten out of control."

Council discussed several solutions to the issue.

Some yard waste can be taken to the dump, Councilmember Darla Haworth said.

City Clerk Kriss Shuler suggested looking into what other communities are doing.

It was also suggested to see if someone outside of the urban growth area would allow burning on their property to alleviate the city problem.

City Administrator Mike Thompson said a representative from the Department of Ecology could come to a council meeting to discuss the issue.

The representative could answer a lot of questions and offer solutions, Councilmember Todd Kisler said.

Burning is necessary but unfortunately it is against the law, Capetillo said.

Council noted an increase in the number of advertisements for free wood around the city.

Councilmembers Rick Pruneda and Tony Massa were absent. Both were excused as Pruneda was ill and Massa was attending a Grant County Health Board meeting.