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attach a penalty for violation. In addition, a local ordinance ought to identify the local permit- issuing authority. A city fire chief or other city official can contact the nearest forestry office to become commissioned as a fire warden. Minn. Stat 88.18. Sometimes it may not be convenient for the fire chief to be the fire warden if the crnef is a volunteer and not readily available during business hours. In the past cities outside the Twin Cities metropoli- tan area had the authority to adopt a local ordi- nance to allow open burning of dried leaves between September 15 and December 1. Minn. Stat. 116.082. Cities still have this authority, however, it is subject to the requirements set out above under state regulation. Consequently, it is not necessary under the new state law for a city to pass this type of an ordinance because a permit would still be JT: lIa 4/94 required under Minn. Stat. 88.17, subd. 1, unless the leaves were burned in an approved burner or the ground was snow-covered. The city could further . restrict the open burning of leaves by only allow- ing it during certain months if the council deter- mined this was necessary. Overall, the need for local regulation of open burning has decreased significantly with the pz.ssage of the new statute. The most efficient way for a city to be involved in the enforcement of the open burning restrictions is to have a city official commissioned as a fire warden. However, all cities should evaluate their current ordinances and make changes to reflect the changes in t1:e state statutes. Also, city councils should make a determination concerning whether additional resbctions on open burning are necessary withi:l their city. . . .