December 8, 2008
OAK GROVE CITY HALL
19900 Nightingale Street NW
Oak Grove, Minnesota 55011
Telephone (763) 753-1920
Fax (763) 753-6271

December 8, 2008

Re: Outdoor Wood Boiler (OWB) at xxxxxxxxx St. NW

Thank you for your letter dated December 3, 2008 regarding the above OWB. I also spoke with the neighbor referenced in your letter by phone today. I reviewed the previous correspondence related to this issue and understand this particular OWB has been in existence at that location since 1992. I visited your neighborhood to observe the conditions today. As found on other field inspections by various staff, a conventional amount of smoke and the smell of wood burning, similar to what a chimney would produce, were witnessed.

As summarized in our November 14, 2008 letter, the prior concerns were presented to the City Council on September 29, 2008 and City Council members were not supportive of creating a city wide ordinance to regulate the use of OWB's. While I understand and empathize with your concerns, OWB's are permitted in the City of Oak Grove and many residents utilize wood burning to heat their homes. Thus, the city's options or methods of resolution are very limited. Our mediation efforts thus far have been to respond to your complaints in a timely matter and request improvements to the existing OWB system to try to remedy the situation. The owners of the subject OWB have complied with our suggestions and have indicated they do not burn anything but wood.

Our prior letter also suggested an additional mediation option available to you and any other interested parties, in which you could discuss your differences through Mediation Services for Anoka County (763) 422-8878. Another viable option would be for you and any other affected neighbors to speak during the public forum at a City Council meeting. This venue would provide an opportunity and forum to speak directly to City Council Members about your concerns. Our next City Council meeting is December 19, 2008 at 7:00pm

I appreciate your concerns about this issue and look forward to meeting you at a City Council meeting.

Sincerely,
Karin L. Slater
City Planner