Every seat was filled Wednesday night at a town hall meeting that drew residents concerned about the county's high levels of ozone and the health impacts to children.

The meeting was hosted by Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy and organized by a group formed by parents and doctors called Save The Air in Nevada County.

The percentage of children with asthma grew from 10.5 percent in 2001 to 17.3 percent in 2003, said Jeff Kane, a doctor who began researching asthma rates in the county after he became disabled with it two summers ago. The jump in rates equates to one out of six kids with asthma in Nevada County, Kane said.

Members of Save The Air in Nevada County (STA in NC) announced action plans for this summer including the purchase of a portable ozone monitor that could be used at popular recreational areas in the county.

The group also announced plans to present a clean air resolution to the cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City as well as the county Board of Supervisors.

“No one is taking the leadership on this,” said Shawn Garvey, one of the group founders. “We believe we have an obligation to take the lead role on this.”