It's a hot issue

Outdoor furnace law defeated, but goes back to the drawing table, By Gretchen van Nuys Wantage — Emotions ran high over the topic of whether and how to handle the use of outdoor furnaces during a spirited discussion at the Wantage Township’s April 29 meeting. Residents both for and against a proposed law described their own experiences with outdoor furnaces. “My neighbor next door has an outdoor furnace, and the smoke is unbelievable,” said Billie Aikens. “I’ve been dealing with burning toxic garbage year-round,” she said, adding that she is unable to open her windows or sit outside her house no matter how beautiful the weather because of the smoke. The township’s proposed outdoor furnace law, already the subject of much debate, was voted down April 29. It will now go back to the Land Use Board for fine-tuning. There is no deadline on this, but the measure is expected to return for a vote in an updated form within a month or so. “The Land Board discussed this and decided to make some changes,” said Deputy Mayor and Land Use Board member Bill DeBoer. The proposed law was created as a way to regulate the use of outdoor furnaces, after residents had expressed concerns about their safety and impact on the environment. It’s personal Speakers told their stories during last week’s meeting. “Nobody should ever have to breathe anyone else’s garbage and smoke like what pours into my house,” Aikens said. “It’s horrific, it really is. It would be different if you had 10 acres and it didn’t affect anybody.” Another resident argued that law-abiding outdoor furnace owners should not be penalized for the actions of others. “I live on three acres, and I own an outdoor wood stove,” said Paul Kimble. “If an outdoor furnace is used properly, there’s nothing coming out of it that will hurt you people; it should be no problem.” Kimble disagreed with the now-defeated proposal to permit outdoor furnaces only on properties of five acres or more. He believes existing legally-installed outdoor furnaces should be grandfathered in. “I followed the rules and got my permit,” he said to the mayor and committee members. “If you make me pull this out — and it costs me $15,000 —I’ll send you the bill.”