Cook County residents have done a great job clearing their properties of brush and overgrowth that could compound problems during a forest fire, but disposing of the material is proving to be not so clear cut.
Paul Nelson and Dick Parker of Cook County’s Firewise Committee reported to the county board Tuesday, June 9, 2009 that the eight pits designated for the Firewise program throughout the county are full. Six of the pits are owned by the U.S. Forest Service, one is owned by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and one is owned privately.
When the pits are full, heavy equipment can consolidate the material in them to make room for more. Nelson and Parker asked the county board if the Highway Department could consolidate the material when county equipment is in the vicinity of the pits.
Pete Igoe of the U.S. Forest Service recommended that the pits be consolidated every four to six weeks. The Forest Service usually burns slash pits in the fall, and frequent consolidation makes the burning more efficient, he said.
County Engineer Shae Kosmalski agreed to have her crew do the consolidating when their equipment is nearby.
Paul Nelson said he is hoping federal stimulus grants could pay for grinding the material. Commissioner Bob Fenwick said that while grants have helped get the woody biomass cleared from private properties, grants are needed to help dispose of it.
A biomass-powered plant that could heat and power buildings in Grand Marais is one use that has been discussed for the proposed 1% county tax that will be brought to a referendum this fall. Such a plant would solve the problem of what to do with all the slash harvested to prevent forest fires.
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