The findings of the Burner Road Task Force clearly support vacation by the city of a portion of Highway 332 known as the Burner Road.

We urge the International Falls City Council to approve a request by Boise Cascade to vacate the Burner Road based on a number of findings included in the task force's report. Those findings involve, most importantly, improving safety, and transportation efficiency for the company.

The other part of the equation _ construction of a new northern entrance to Highway 332 _ should wait. Vacation of the Burner Road may provide clear direction to the city about how to proceed on that matter.

The task force, made up of 14 members who were assisted by five support staff, was created to consider all factors, including the potential impact to Highway 53 businesses, of the vacation and possible rerouting of Highway 332. It appears the task force took its charge seriously and provided a detailed view of the issue.

Among the findings of the task force was agreement that the existing use of the Burner Road causes a safety problem. In addition, the findings noted that realignment of Highway 332 would improve safety by reducing the amount of sharp turns in the road that must be negotiated by truck and other traffic and by eliminating public traffic on the Burner Road.

The findings also noted that completion of the project would benefit heavy equipment contractors in the area, as well as improve economic efficiency by eliminating the need for heavy equipment to wait on traffic while crossing the Burner Road.

And Highway 53 merchants were consulted. The findings said most support vacation of the Burner Road, provided a reroute of the northern entrance of Highway 332 would not result in loss of customer traffic on Highway 53. Those merchants also believe that a reroute of Highway 332 further east than originally proposed to allow access to a foreign trade zone would not result in further loss of vehicle traffic on Highway 53.

The council should acknowledge the findings in the report and take a first step in improving safety and efficiency by approving the vacation request. After that, it has the responsibility to consider the rest of the report as the community adapts to the traffic changes resulting from the vacation.