Title
Ordinance amending the Lake County Temporary Emergency Public Nuisance Ordinance.
Staff Summary
• The County Board first adopted the Lake County Temporary Emergency Public Nuisance Ordinance which temporarily banned open burning in the unincorporated area in May 2020 in recognition of the increased risk of negative health impacts from open burning on individuals infected with COVID-19. The County Board extended this ordinance through 2020 and reinstated it with certain exemptions on March 9, 2021. It is now set to expire on June 9, 2021.
• The temporary emergency ordinance was originally enacted specifically in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, extending these restrictions on open burning of specified landscape waste beyond any declared emergency will continue to mitigate against COVID-related and any other negative health effects associated with open burning in the unincorporated area while the County explores options and alternatives for landscape waste disposal.
• This amended Temporary Public Nuisance Ordinance will continue to permit opening burning of specified landscape waste on unincorporated residential properties at specified times and on limited days, as well in those instances where the burning occurs at least 500’ to the nearest habitable structure. Exemptions for recreational fires, the use of self-contained outdoor burn devices under certain criteria, and prescribed habitat and ecological landscape burns have been retained.
• The amended extension will go into effect immediately upon Lake County Board adoption of Exhibit A and expire on October 12, 2021.
Body
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, pursuant to 720 ILCS 5/47-5, counties have authority to declare what shall be public nuisances and to abate the same with respect to the territory within the county and outside the corporate limits of any city, village, or incorporated town; and
WHEREAS, based upon available information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people of all ages, including those who have underlying respiratory medical conditions and those who do not, are at higher risk for developing more serious symptoms and/or complications if they contract COVID-19 when exposed to smoke from open burning; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Temporary Public Nuisance Ordinance mitigates these and other public health risks; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board is also considering other options for disposal of specified landscape waste for residents of the unincorporated area and additional time is needed to gather data and input from residents related to possible alternatives; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Lake County Temporary Public Nuisance Ordinance as attached in Exhibit A be amended to expire on October 12, 2021; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the Clerk of the County Board shall keep a record of this action.
DATED AT WAUKEGAN, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, this 8th day of June, 2021.