LA GRANDE â The decision by the Union County Board of Commissioners on Monday, July 19, to enforce a burn ban â prohibiting everything but regulated agricultural burns and pellet or gas barbecues â put some people on edge.
A number of individuals, including Elgin Mayor Risa Hallgarth, contacted Union County officials to express their concerns about allowing agricultural burns when conditions are so dry, hot and smoky.
The worries of Hallgarth and others were alleviated after learning that the only agricultural burning allowed under Union Countyâs agricultural burning ordinance is highly restricted.
âWhen I learned how tightly regulated it is, it really eased my concerns about it,â Hallgarth said.