By Patrick Tepoorten

Though there are only two outdoor boilers within Rush City, the city council is considering a ban on the unique heating system from use altogether. In fact, city clerk Amy Mell suggested to the council on Monday that the planning commission would do just that if given the chance.

Outdoor boilers are a bio-mass burning boiler that heats water that is then circulated through a given structure. Unlike more traditional furnaces however, these boilers sit outside and can burn wood, corn, or other products, and produce much more smoke that more traditional indoor burners.

One of the reasons for the large amount of smoke produced by outdoor boilers is that the fireboxes are surrounded by a ìwater jacketî which, though efficient from a water heating standpoint, has the result of cooling a fuel load until it smolders primarily. Another reason is the rapid burning of creosote when the boiler opens the damper and rekindles the fuel load.

According to a study commissioned by the EPA in 1998, outdoor boilers produce roughly 50 grams of smoke per hour.

The recent installation of an outdoor boiler in the middle of a city block has caused complaints, according to Mell, and had the issue front and center at the city council. Councilman David Bengtson noted, ìThey are a public nuisance. Period.î Mick Louzek asked ìHow quickly can we move on this?î

Indeed, the council responded to that question by placing a six-month moratorium on the construction of outdoor boilers in the city. As well, they have sent the issue to the planning commission where a public hearing on the matter is likely to be held on April 3.

Barring popular support for the boilers, commission members are expected to recommend they be banned in the city. It is possible that the city council could rule that way, or at the very least create a restrictive atmosphere in the city, as soon as its April 10 meeting.

Mell was not sure how existing outdoor boilers could be dealt with. ìMy guess is that they would be grand-fathered in.î

In other Rush City news:

ï The cityís sign ordinance was amended to include civic signs. The amendment allows for civic groups to construct signs that make note of sponsors. Under the current ordinance, noting sponsors on a sign would be considered off-premises promotion.

The amendment comes as the Rush City Chamber of Commerce is planning to construct just such a sign. According to the ordinance, sign sponsors must not comprise more than 20 percent of the total sign.

ï A preliminary plat for Anderson Acres was approved by the council, conditional to wetland inspection, which cannot be conducted until later in the spring. The plan includes over a half-mile of walking trails.

The property was also re-zoned to a residential one (R1) designation by the council.