THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2008
Ban Outdoor BBQs, Fires?
Elk Grove Village banned smoking cigarettes in public places a few years ago. At one time, the village also outlawed outdoor barbeques and fires. One group wants to bring those bans back and take them further.
Kenneth Dubinski and his group, the Breathe Healthy Air Coalition, are on a crusade to bring back those bans and extend them to any wood burning mechanisms like fire places and barbeques.
He said it is in the name of healthy living by avoiding second hand outdoor smoke.
"We support legislation to ensure that all people have the right to breathe healthy air in their yard, on their property, and in their home free of wood smoke emissions," reads a statement on the Breath Healthy Air Coalition's website.
The BHAC advocates converting wood burning mechanisms to gas and would use state or local funds to do so.
"We support the voluntary conversion of all inside wood-burning fireplaces to natural gas or electric, and with the local/state government supporting this conversion with a financial grant."
Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said he is aware of Dubinski's efforts but thinks banning barbeques and fireplaces goes too far. He dismissed Dubinski as one a one-man crusade.
Johnson said there are no plans to address the issue or change the current laws in Elk Grove Village.
Johnson said Elk Grove Village, had an outdoor fire ban years ago after a barbeque caused a fire.
Johnson said the village had a "knee jerk reaction" and banned outdoor fires.
Several years later the village board reversed the law.
A suggestion several months ago in the Journal's Speak Out section to institute a ban on barbeques in Des Plaines brought a fierce backlash against changing any laws regarding outdoor grilling.