By David Fleet

Editor

Goodrich-By a 3-1 vote on Monday night the village council OK’d an amendment to an ordinance that will ban burning household refuse in the village.

Councilmember Pete Morey was absent. Council President Mark Baldwin voted no.

The ordinance, which is a combination of Atlas Township and village rules, became an issue after several residents suggested the smoke produced from burning of leaves was troublesome.

Due to the number of oak and maple trees in the community, disposal of leaves often become a major task in the fall months.

“We have had several calls and village residents have come into the office concerned about the amount of smoke generated by the burning of leaves,” said Jakki Sidge, village administrator. “Some people in the village have asthma and often the smoke gets so bad you can’t see across M-15. Residents have to close their windows due to the smoke.”

Keith Walworth, village resident opposed the ban.

“Burning and raking leaves is a community event,” he said. “I have a lot of oak trees in my yard, the paper bags needed to rake the leaves into cost 50 cents each and it would take at least 100 bags. It’s like an increase in taxes for Goodrich.”