Concern expressed over prescribed burns

Published 9:59 am Friday, November 6, 2015

A Lynx, Ohio, woman has expressed her objections to prescribed burns at the Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area to the Lawrence County Commissioners.

Barbara Lund wrote the commissioners a letter concerning Wayne National Forest’s application to burn 745 acres around the area in 13 burn units.

“In my experience observing prescribed fires in Shawnee State Forest in Scioto County and Nature Conservancy fires in Adams County, agencies and organizations are not able to fully control forest fires to keep them within the burn unit boundaries or control the smoke as required,” Lund writes. “In my opinion Lawrence County should evaluate this large and destructive project for both its claimed benefits and actual costs.”

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Smoke can impact human beings so the health department should be concerned, according to Lund.

“I’m concerned that smoke impacts all organisms that respire — livestock, pets, wild animals, even plants,” she writes.

The commission agreed to refer Lund’s letter to the Lawrence County Health Department.

At the request of commission president Les Boggs, the commission agreed to contact the county engineer and Shelly Contractors about cracks in the asphalt in the recent paving of County Road 181 or Hog Run Road to make repairs before the asphalt plants are closed.

In other business the commissioners:

• Received the official acceptance of Township Road 1204 by the Rome Township Trustees;

• Met in executive session with Ironton attorney Mark McCown on collective bargaining;

• Met in executive session with assistant prosecuting attorney Bob Anderson concerning litigation.