An ordinance to ban burning of leaves and other yard waste in Rock Falls failed at a city council meeting.
The ban had strong support from Mayor Bill Wescott as well as residents with health problems exacerbated by the burning of yard waste. However, Saukvalley.com reports that Ald. Jim Schuneman believed the ordinance was rushed through council and went against the wishes of residents who filled out surveys on the subject several years ago.
The bill ultimately failed, with four votes against the measure and three in favor. Wescott expressed his disappointment with the vote, calling it a "quality-of-life issue." An ordinance tightening up language on recreational burning from fire pits and other enclosed fire pits also failed to pass at the same meeting.
The Illinois EPA does not outlaw leaf burning at a state level, but various local ordinances ban the practice.