Peru close to outdoor-boiler law

By JEFF MEYERS
Staff Writer

June 11, 2009 10:20 am

— PERU — Town officials are close to finalizing a new law that would regulate the use of outdoor wood boilers within town lines.
Councilors have been focused on the issue for more than a year and recently received a third revision to an amendment to the current law from Town Attorney Donald Biggs.
They have set a public hearing for the amended version for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 22.
The town has moved to establish regulations for outdoor wood boilers to “ensure the proper siting, operation and performance of outdoor wood-burning devices in order to protect public health and environment,” the proposed legislation states.
The latest version adjusts wording to the sections on spark arresters and screening to reduce wood-boiler visibility, Biggs said during the council’s recent meeting.
According to the law, outdoor wood boilers must include functioning spark arresters unless the manufacturer’s recommendations or written instructions state otherwise, he noted.
Also, outdoor boilers must be screened so they are “substantially invisible” from nearby roadways, the proposed law states.
Beyond that, the legislation identifies several specifics identifying the permitting process for town residents who own outdoor wood boilers, including the location of the boiler, the size and location of a chimney stack and the types of permitted fuels.
Copies of the revised proposed law are available at the Town Hall.
Biggs and several councilors also noted that the upcoming public hearing will be limited to questions and comments concerning those two revisions only.
The town has already held public hearings on the bulk of the information the legislation contains, he noted.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at:
jmeyers@pressrepublican.com