Commissioners add county judge authority to rescind burn ban; court sets start at noon

Walker County commissioners on Monday issued a burn ban and amended the order to give the county judge authority to rescind the ban if weather or fuel conditions improve.

The court debated whether the judge should have discretion to terminate a burn ban before the commissioners reconvene. One commissioner proposed adding wording to the bans final paragraph allowing the county judge to rescind the prohibition if conditions changed, with the action to be brought back to court for ratification.

"I'd like to see it put in there that the county judge can pull it if we get a substantial amount of rain and they bring it back to court to ratify it," one commissioner said. Another commissioner urged that rescission by the judge be legally effective immediately, noting the court could later ratify the change.

The amended language was added, and the court set the ban to take effect at noon the day of the meeting. Commissioners said they would consult the Forest Service and local fire chiefs about conditions and the timing of any termination.

The motion carried on a voice/hand vote. The order gives the judge authority to rescind the burn ban and directs staff to coordinate with emergency services about implementation and notification.