WIUM Local
(2009-04-06)
The Air Curtain Destructor from Concept Products Corporation
Aldermen on Monday night approved a motion to buy the device on a vote of five to three. Earlier in the meeting, a motion to reject the purchase was turned back on the same count.
In each case, those in the majority were Dennis Moon, Ed Lavin, Lou Gilbert, Mike Inman, and Ken Zahnle. Those on the short end of the votes were Dave Dorsett, Tim Lobdell, and Don Wynn. Dick Vick was absent from the meeting.
Supporters say the air curtain will allow the city to burn when necessary. That need might arise to prevent a disease such as Dutch Elm from spreading or to handle a large amount of storm damage.
Opponents feel the burning will create air pollution and lead to breathing problems for some residents. They want the city to grind up yard waste and do more to promote the availability of the free mulch.
Zahnle says the air curtain is just one tool for the city to use. He says the city can continue to grind waste at times and use the air curtain at other times. He points out aldermen are in charge of making policy for when the city should burn.
City staff was directed to come up with a burn policy for aldermen to consider. Aldermen are expected to consider the matter in the coming weeks.
The product the city will buy is called the Air Curtain Destructor. It's made by Concept Products Corporation. The cost is $14,770. The city is currently renting the device to burn the excessive amount of waste from the December ice storm. A portion of the money spent renting it can be applied to the purchase.
Concept Products Corporation says the Air Curtain Destructor uses a high velocity curtain of air to contain smoke within the fire pit. The company says this curtain of air also injects oxygen into the fire and raises the temperature as high as 2200-degrees. This reduces burned debris to 1% or less of its original volume.
You can listen to the discussion from Monday night's Macomb City Council meeting by clicking on the audio button.
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