FALLS CITY – The Falls City City Council approved its first burn permit since banning burning inside the city in 2018.

Rich Little will work with the fire department to acquire a burn permit for brush on lots he is clearing on Reavis Street.

Jon McQueen of the Falls City Volunteer Fire Department said the burn ban has been beneficial to Falls City, but the fire department is willing to work on individual permits approved by the city council.

He said he would not like to go back to issuing 100 permits a year. The arboretum is the only location in Falls City where burn permits are allowed.

Councilman Derrick Leyden, who moved for the burn ban in 2018, was absent from Monday’s meeting.

Little also spoke with the city council regarding using golf carts on Stone Street and reconfiguring stop signs at 13th Street.

Council member Kaylie Ractliffe said the city has been pursuing a traffic study that would provide guidance on questions like stop signs, but is looking for a reasonable price for the work.

Council member Don Ferguson said the city did not include Stone Street in its ordinance to approve UTVs because of the parallel parking on both sides of the street and safety issues involving smaller vehicles.