Halloween Safety
Halloween Trick or Treating will be on Monday, October 31 from 5 – 7pm. The following are some safety tips for parents and children:
- If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure they are far enough out of the way so kids’ costumes won't accidentally catch fire.
- Teach your children how to properly cross a street. Only cross streets at crosswalks.
- Help your child pick out or make a costume that has eye holes large enough for good peripheral vision.
- For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores.
- To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.
- Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
- If your child is carrying a prop, make sure the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on.
- Check over candy that is collected for any foreign objects.
- Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren't going with them.
- The safest idea is to have an adult accompany kids. If you’re not with the kids, be sure to set a time they will be home by. Make sure they know how important it is for them to be home on time.
- Children should not enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult.
Waunakee Senior Vehicle Check
When: Friday, October 14, 2011 9:00 am - Noon
Where: Waunakee Police Department
The Waunakee Senior Vehicle Check is scheduled for Friday, October 14th. All seniors are welcome to stop by and have your vehicle inspected for FREE. Traffic safety and other safety information will be available and refreshments provided. This event is sponsored by the Waunakee Police Department, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and Waunakee Senior Center, with the assistance of the Waunakee High School Skills USA students. NO repairs will be made on your vehicle. You will be advised of any problems with your vehicle. You will be referred to your own mechanic and you are responsible for getting the repairs made on your car. While waiting for your inspection to be completed, register to win door prizes! A drawing will be made at the end of the day, you need not be present to win! NO APPOINTMENT is necessary for your vehicle safety inspection
Fall Ordinance Reminders
Sec 82-8. Raking Leaves into Streets.
In the interests of public safety, health and general welfare, community appearance and efficiency of operation, it shall be unlawful to rake or place fallen tree leaves or grass clippings onto the pavement or into the gutter of any public street. No person shall permit grass clippings from mower swaths to remain upon sidewalks or on abutting property owned or occupied by such person. (Code 1988, § 6-2-13)
Sec. 38-37. Open burning.
(a) Restricted. No person shall build or maintain any outdoor fire within the corporate limits of the village except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section. This prohibition on burning includes burning of construction waste and debris at construction sites.
(b) Exceptions. Exceptions to the prohibition stated in subsection (a) of this section are as follows:
(1) Outdoor cooking over a fire contained in a device or structure designed for such use is permissible. Outdoor cooking is not permitted at commercial facilities or on commercial property unless prior written approval is obtained from the fire chief or his/her designee.
(2) Dry wood may be burned in a commercially manufactured outdoor recreational fireplace that is certified by a nationally recognized listing agency or in a non-commercially constructed brick fireplace with a chimney that is approved by the building inspector according to applicable building codes, subject to the following conditions:
a. The fireplace must be an assembly that includes a bowl, pit or device for holding the wood and a method of containing embers and sparks.
b. Only dry wood, entirely contained within the device, is permitted to be burned.
c. The fireplace shall not be used within 15 feet of any structure or five feet of any lot line unless the fireplace is a brick fireplace and the location of the fireplace is approved by the building inspector according to applicable building codes.
d. The smoke shall not create a nuisance for other properties, obstruction of vehicle travel, or health concerns of others.
e. No fireplace shall be located or used on a wood deck, porch, or patio.
f. An ABC type fire extinguisher, charged garden hose, or other method of first aid fire control must be readily available.
g. The fireplace must be supervised or attended at all times while in use by a responsible adult over the age of 18. The fire must be completely extinguished before the fireplace is left unsupervised.
h. Use of the fireplace shall be discontinued when atmospheric conditions are unfavorable or make the use of the fireplace hazardous. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, winds in excess of ten miles per hour or excessive dry weather conditions as declared by the fire department. Fireplace operators shall be responsible for checking with the fire department by phone or other means prescribed by the fire chief or his/her designee to determine whether hazardous conditions exist. No burning shall be allowed if wind conditions cause smoke, embers or other burning materials to be carried toward any building or other combustible material.
i. Burning of dry wood under this subsection (b)(2) shall not be permitted at commercial facilities or on commercial property unless prior written approval is obtained from the fire chief or his/her designee.
(3) With the prior written approval of the fire chief or his/her designee, controlled burning of grass or similar vegetation for environmental management purposes may be permitted. This exception shall not be used for the burning of grass, leaves or other lawn debris.
(4) With the prior written approval of the fire chief or his/her designee, ceremonial campfires or bonfires may be permitted.
(5) With the prior written approval of the fire chief or his/her designee, other occasions of desirable outdoor burning not specified by this subsection (b), but not as an alternative to refuse removal or disposal of which other methods are available, may be granted on single occasions.
(6) Whenever prior written approval is obtained from the fire chief or his/her designee under this subsection (b), the written approval may specify and be conditioned on observance of safety restrictions and insurance requirements set forth therein.
(c) Authority to prohibit. The fire chief or his/her designee is permitted to prohibit any or all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous.
(d) Burning on streets. No materials may be burned upon any street, curb, gutter or sidewalk.
(e) Liability. A person utilizing or maintaining an outdoor fire shall be responsible for any liability resulting from damage caused by the fire.
(Code 1988, § 5-2-9; Ord. No. 10-9, § 1, 8-16-10)
Wisconsin’s New Carrying Concealed Weapons Law
Wisconsin Act 35 was signed into law on July 8, 2011, and published on July 22, 2011. However, the provisions regarding CCW licenses do not take effect until November 1, 2011. The following is a link from the WI Dept of Justice designed to answer many of the publics questions and further explain the new law: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/ConcealedCarry/ccw_frequently_asked_questions.pdf.
Questions can be sent to newsletter@waunakeepd.org Questions submitted may be featured in future newsletters. The person submitting the question will not be identified.