Pits get Marion Council candidates fired up

Of all the burning issues facing Marion voters, only one is truly combustible.

At a League of Women Voters forum earlier this month, four candidates for city council were asked, if given the opportunity, would they seek to outlaw fire pits in the city? These 'pits” generally are metal or clay bowls or cylinders where people light small campfires.

The city's code says pits must be more than 15 feet from a structure, must have a screen or spark arrester in place, can't be more than three feet in diameter and contain a stack of wood no more than two-feet tall.

If a resident believes a fire is a nuisance, the fire department will check it out. If the complaint is valid, the fire is extinguished.

'I guess I would not outlaw them because I have one,” said Ward 3 candidate Will Brandt. 'I enjoy going in the backyard having a little fire with the kids roasting marshmallows, having s'mores. I didn't know there was an issue about it.”

His opponent, former Council member Kay Lammers, strongly disagreed.

'I've been fighting fire pits for years. I don't understand how you can't smoke a cigarette in the park but you allow my neighbor to have a bonfire 15 feet from my bedroom window,” Lammers said.

'If I smell smoke my heart starts to beat really fast. I've been in the ER three times. But nobody seems to care about that,” she said.

'I've never had anyone tell me they don't like fire pits … except Kay,” said Ward 1 Council member Kim Etzel.

Soon, Brandt posted a video clip of Lammers' statement on his campaign's Facebook page. 'When you elect me, I will do everything I can to ensure the simple pleasure of roasting marshmallows, on your property, with your family and friends. It IS about the little things, as well as the hot topics,” he wrote.

It went viral, at least by local election standards. His post was shared by 60 people and liked by 150. It also drew more than 60 comments, some of which were on the nasty side, despite Brandt's plea to keep things 'civil and respectful.”

Has he been on the Internet? You're only a few clicks away from your next 'Nazis!”

Lammers has strong opinions, lots of them. 'Wishy-washy” will never be used to describe her. And I would never, ever discount her health concerns or anyone else's. But this would seem to be the sort of issue solved by neighbors talking things out, listening to one another, Calling someone else to fix a problem is easier, but is it the right call?

Truth is, if it wasn't for fire pits, I might not know my own neighbors very well. A few years back, Saturday night driveway fires began serving as a warm, friendly beacon for my neighbors to grab some camp chairs, pack a cooler to come together. Sure, we made some smoke, but we also made friends and turned a cluster of homes into a real neighborhood.

I can't support making that illegal. Besides, they may come after my charcoal grill next. I don't like to think about that.

Trust me, I know it can be tough in our keep-to-ourselves times to break our comfort bubbles and reach out. But I think it still can be done.

And if it can't, we've got problems no ordinance can fix.

l Comments: (319) 398-8452; todd.dorman@thegazette.com