Thursday April 18, 2013 Vol. 1, No. 9 Hot news tip? Want to advertise? Call (309) 741-9790
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Simple advice for burning ditches: Don’t By BILL KNIGHT
Asked if he has suggestions for people thinking about burning dead grass along fence rows, Brimfield Fire Chief James Bennett says, “Yeah: not to do it.” Hours later and 10 miles west, Elmwood Fire Chief Chad Jordan says, “Don’t do it.” The Brimfield Community Fire Protection District recently responded to 15 calls in two days and half of them were grass fires, Bennett says. Jordan says Elmwood’s volunteer fire fighters last week had three brush fires in one For The Weekly Post
day. Such blazes can start with a carelessly discarded cigarette, they agree, but at this time of year many such wildfires result from someone intending to tidy up but losing control. Every year there are more than 60,000 wildfires nationally, and although some beneficial effects may occur to help a few types of plants, the risk of extensive property damage and loss of life is enormous. Grass fires can spread rapidly, change direction and even jump roads. “Roads won’t stop them,” Jordan
says. “We were called to help fight a 120-acre corn field fire and I saw it jump a road. “Most people don’t understand how fast things can change,” he continues. “The wind can change fast and it doesn’t take much wind for things to get out of hand.” If it’s absolutely necessary, Bennett says, good planning is needed. “I suppose it can be a good thing if done properly,” Bennett says, recommending people notice the wind and cancel plans “any day there’s any wind; then wet around the area you’re going Continued on Page 2
Local firefighters had been busy responding to grass fires prior to recent rainstorms.
Bridge closure impacts Brimfield
YATES CITY: NO CHICKENS
By MELINDA COTE
BRIMFIELD – Longer commutes and slower emergency vehicle response times could be a part of life for some Brimfield residents for one to three years depending on how long Brimfield-Jubilee Road is closed for bridge repairs. The Peoria County Board, acting on the advice of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), recently closed the Brimfield Jubilee Road just past the intersection with Savage Road. Inspection of the bridge east of Brimfield Stories? Ads? deemed it unsafe. The Visit with a staffer problem for residents is from The Weekly Post that estimates of repair time have ranged between Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. in the Brimone and three years. field Public Library’s Unfortunately, there are conference room. many road improvements needed in Peoria County. Repairs are prioritized by IDOT using a formula which takes into account the degree of structural deficiencies, how many vehicles utilize the particular road on a daily basis and projections on how widely the road will be used in the future. Another complication is that repairs are funded by Illinois motor fuel taxes – which have been declining in recent years due to more efficient vehicles. The County Board’s Transportation Committee is studying various funding options. The committee will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 24 at 2 p.m. in Room 402 at the Peoria County Courthouse. Concerned residents are encouraged to attend this meeting for additional information. Visitors will also be allowed 2-3 minutes to express their concerns to the committee. For The Weekly Post
Yates City’s “hen advocates,” left to right, are Carol Schauble, Katie Schauble, McKenzie Wilson, Michala Schauble and April Wilson; Morgan Wilson is in front. Photo by Bill Knight.
Chickens voted out by Yates City board By BILL KNIGHT
YATES CITY – A long debate and a close vote on allowing chickens as pets might seem funny if a few little girls hadn’t left the Community Center here crying. A motion to amend a 2001 ordinance regulating animals in the village limits to permit residents to have a few chickens was defeated in a 2-3 vote last Wednesday (April 10). Trustees Matt Guyer and Tom Kinzer voted for For The Weekly Post
the amendment, but Trustees Ron Smith, Kenny Gibson and Richard Grubb voted against it. Trustee Randy Blodgett was absent. As the third nay vote was announced, two girls left weeping and a couple of adults had tears in their eyes as they waited in a hallway for a thunderstorm to let up. “We were just so disappointed,” said April Wilson. “We’d worked so hard.”
The proposal featured restrictions such as a fenced outside area that can be secured at night, a way to also secure food, a covered inside space with electrical service for the chickens, ongoing maintenance to minimize odors, a prohibition on roosters and local slaughtering, and a limit to the number of chickens. The ordinance also provided for fines and ways to eliminate reported nuisances. Detailed plans haven’t yet Continued on Page 2