Meade County "Burn Ban" Still in Effect

BURN BAN:

This ban is automatically enacted when the National Weather Service’s Fire Danger Index reaches the Very High or greater categories and is automatically suspended when it falls below the Very High category.

Open fires are banned between July 28 and Aug 18 of any year as well as fireworks unless approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

Not Allowed: Any Open Flame including Campfires & Fireworks.

Allowed: Charcoal and liquid fuel grills that are are a metal or stone device with the fire box that is not resting on the ground with a metal grate designed to cook food.

For more information please refer to Meade County ORDINANCE NO. 27.

Meade County Commission Meeting to be Held in Faith, SD

On August 15th, 2012, beginning at 10:00 am, the Meade County Commissioners will hold their regularly scheduled meeting at the City Hall in Faith, SD.  One of the topics on the agenda will be to consider proposed road classification changes in the north half of Meade County, recommended by the Transportation Committee, for Meade County maintained roads.  The proposed road classification changes, (changing a Primary Road to a Secondary Road or a Secondary Road to a Primary Road), will not affect the current maintenance of the roads that you travel on.  For more information about the August 15th meeting, call Jerry Derr at 605.720.1625.

Please see the following attachments for further information regarding the proposed road classification changes:

• North Meade Roads Proposed Road Class Changes Larger MAP (PDF)
• Proposed Road Class Changes for North Meade (PDF)

Meade County Institutes Immediate "Burn Ban"

Sturgis, SD – The Meade County Commission met in emergency session today to initiate an immediate county-wide burn ban and fireworks restriction. Due to the extreme fire dangers that exist, we immediately institute a burn ban in Meade County, until it is deemed by the commission that conditions have improved. The Fireworks Restriction is effective immediately until July 5, 2012. 

The restrictions are linked with the National Weather Service’s Grassland Fire Index.  The Fireworks Ban is effective when the index reaches the very high or extreme category. The Fire Index changes daily depending on rain, temperatures, and humidity. The fire index may be found online at - http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/firewx/rfd.php

There are different definitions and regulations that are entailed within the open burning allowance which include details on fireworks, campfires, and other incendiary devices. Open burning is defined as a burn barrel, open fires such as a camp fires that are not contained within a fully enclosed box or structure.  For more information please refer to the Meade County Ordinance NO. 27 - which can be found at www.meadecounty.org.  

Meade County Institutes Immediate Burn Ban

The Meade County Commission met in emergency session today to initiate an immediate county-wide burn ban.  Due to the extreme fire dangers that exist, we immediately institute a burn ban in Meade County, until it is deemed by the commission that conditions have improved.

Meade County New District Boundaries

The Board of Meade County Commissioners voted on February 7, 2012, to approve new district boundaries in Meade County. The need to redistrict is due to the 2010 Census numbers, which indicated a change in population numbers among the districts. To ensure even population distribution, the commissioners voted to change the district lines slightly. The new district map can be viewed here:  Redistrict Map Zoned in 2012

Revised Ordinances

The following ordinances have recently been revised:

• Ordinance 24:  Placement of Signs and Billboards
• Ordinance 33:  Wastewater Treatment and Water Systems
• Ordinance 9:  Regulations for Flood Damage Prevention

The second readings for each of these ordinances was held on September 6th, 2011, and the revised ordinances went into effect October 11th, 2011.