City of Rolfe fined for burning tree debris too close to houses

Someone complained to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Jan. 17, 2024 that the City of Rolfe had burned tree debris too close to houses. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)

A northwest Iowa town has agreed to pay a $7,000 fine for burning tree debris within a quarter mile of numerous residents’ houses despite a warning years ago that it couldn’t, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Rolfe has for years had a tree and brush disposal site on the south side of town that is within several hundred feet of some residents. One of them complained in 2015 when the city burned the debris, and the DNR told city officials they would need to acquire waivers from all residents who live within 1,320 feet of the site for future burns, as required by state rules. The department also issued the city a violation notice.

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The city was unable to obtain waivers for all of the affected residents, said Michelle Sabatini-Rosacker, a senior environmental specialist for the department.

Then in January 2024, a newly elected Rolfe mayor allegedly approved burning the debris at the site. A company had estimated that it would cost $17,000 to process the debris into wood chips.

Mayor James Pentico did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article, but city council meeting minutes from February say: “Mayor stated he will take the responsibility for it, he thought everything was ready to go.”

The city later adopted a policy that restricts the size of tree limbs that can be deposited at the site so that they are small enough to be easily processed and composted, Sabatini-Rosacker said.

“The future of the tree pile will have to be assessed over time, due to costs and limitations,” she said.

Brush fires that are too close to homes can diminish the air quality for people who live there.

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The post City of Rolfe fined for burning tree debris too close to houses appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch .