After more than six months of bickering, attempted compromises and a lot of elbow grease, Westlock County finally has a fire protection bylaw that allows peat material to be burned, but also places stiff restrictions on doing so.
And, as is often the case when it comes to bylaws such as these, one side is unhappy with what the law says.
However, what is somewhat unique in this case is that both sides are unhappy with the bylaw.
Those who want to keep burning peat are upset so many restrictions have been placed on the act.
Meanwhile, those who don’t want to see peat burned are upset it’s still being allowed to happen.
Both sides’ arguments have merit.
Those who want burning see it as a fairly quick and easy way to clear their land of a material that makes farming difficult.
Those opposed see the smoke produced as a serious health hazard.
But, what both sides need to remember, and what both sides have acknowledged, is that the bylaw as it exists now is not likely the form it will have in a few years.
Like any legislation at any level, this bylaw can easily be reviewed and amended as situations change or if its effects turn out not to be what was intended.
As an example, only five piles are allowed to burn in a single county district. Is that too many? Reeve Charles Navratil says no, but we won’t know for sure until five are burning at one time.
Or what about how close any two fires can be? The current distance is 6.4 kilometres. Is that far enough apart? Again, it’s probably too soon to say.
The point is, while it’s OK to be upset that the bylaw doesn’t solve everyone’s problems all at once, it bears remembering the bylaw is only the first version.
Let it run for a while, and if things haven’t improved, take the time to figure out how to fix it.
Until then, it would excessive micromanagement to address problems before they become apparent.
