Cassville working on change to allow fireworks
January 23, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
At the monthly meeting of the Cassville City Council on Monday, January 14, an ordinance was proposed that would amend city regulations regarding the discharge of fireworks within city limits.
Currently, the discharge of fireworks within city limits is illegal, despite fireworks being sold within city limits on and around the Fourth of July.
Alderman Jon Horner brought the proposal before city council, explaining that he had been contacted by constituents regarding the ordinance and felt it should be amended. He then asked City Administrator Steve Walensky to draft a revision to the ordinance that would allow for the discharge of fireworks within city limits.
“I’ve had citizens reach out to me over the last few years and ask why we didn’t allow fireworks being set off in the city when we sold them,” said Horner “They felt like the city was being inconsistent. The more I thought about it, and talked with other citizens, I felt like we could come up with what I think is a smart, common-sense compromise.”
Horner further explained during the meeting the current ordinance created problems for the police department by taking time away from other policing to deal with fireworks complaints, which has led to citizens detonating the fireworks despite the ordinance.
“The main thing is, we’ll get a call about fireworks going off and we’ll go to that area and it’s hard to find where they’re even being shot off at,” said Dana Kammerlohr, Cassville Chief of police. “It would free us up from that. Now, as to whether or not this will lead to more calls, I don’t know.”
Under the new ordinance, citizens would be allowed to set off fireworks during reasonable hours on specified dates both before and during the Fourth. These hours would be between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. on July 1 through July 3 and 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on July 4.
A motion to approve the bill was made by Alderman Cindy Carr and seconded by Alderman Horner. A roll call vote was taken, with Aldermen Carr and Horner voting to approve the bill, while Alderman Jerry Marple voted nay and Alderman Mike Vining not being in attendance. This led to the bill not being passed.
“I felt like that’s what the community would want,” said Marple in regards to his nay vote. “That’s the way that it’s been and I haven’t heard any complaints about that. I feel like they want to continue to have the ordinance the way that it is.”
Alderman Cindy Carr could not be reached for comment at time of publication.
According to state law, since the council was attempting to pass a new ordinance, a majority of the entire council must be in agreement. With Marple’s nay vote and the absence of Vining, the ordinance was not able to attain all three necessary votes to make a majority.
The bill has since been tabled due to the lack of a majority vote from the council and is expected to be brought before council again next month on Monday, February 11, at 6 p.m. with Alderman Vining expecting to be in attendance.
“I’ll listen to all the facts about what the new ordinance will contain, and I’ll go from there,” said Vining.
Vinnie Roberts
At the monthly meeting of the Cassville City Council on Monday, January 14, an ordinance was proposed that would amend city regulations regarding the discharge of fireworks within city limits.
Currently, the discharge of fireworks within city limits is illegal, despite fireworks being sold within city limits on and around the Fourth of July.
Alderman Jon Horner brought the proposal before city council, explaining that he had been contacted by constituents regarding the ordinance and felt it should be amended. He then asked City Administrator Steve Walensky to draft a revision to the ordinance that would allow for the discharge of fireworks within city limits.
“I’ve had citizens reach out to me over the last few years and ask why we didn’t allow fireworks being set off in the city when we sold them,” said Horner “They felt like the city was being inconsistent. The more I thought about it, and talked with other citizens, I felt like we could come up with what I think is a smart, common-sense compromise.”
Horner further explained during the meeting the current ordinance created problems for the police department by taking time away from other policing to deal with fireworks complaints, which has led to citizens detonating the fireworks despite the ordinance.
“The main thing is, we’ll get a call about fireworks going off and we’ll go to that area and it’s hard to find where they’re even being shot off at,” said Dana Kammerlohr, Cassville Chief of police. “It would free us up from that. Now, as to whether or not this will lead to more calls, I don’t know.”
Under the new ordinance, citizens would be allowed to set off fireworks during reasonable hours on specified dates both before and during the Fourth. These hours would be between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m. on July 1 through July 3 and 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on July 4.
A motion to approve the bill was made by Alderman Cindy Carr and seconded by Alderman Horner. A roll call vote was taken, with Aldermen Carr and Horner voting to approve the bill, while Alderman Jerry Marple voted nay and Alderman Mike Vining not being in attendance. This led to the bill not being passed.
“I felt like that’s what the community would want,” said Marple in regards to his nay vote. “That’s the way that it’s been and I haven’t heard any complaints about that. I feel like they want to continue to have the ordinance the way that it is.”
Alderman Cindy Carr could not be reached for comment at time of publication.
According to state law, since the council was attempting to pass a new ordinance, a majority of the entire council must be in agreement. With Marple’s nay vote and the absence of Vining, the ordinance was not able to attain all three necessary votes to make a majority.
The bill has since been tabled due to the lack of a majority vote from the council and is expected to be brought before council again next month on Monday, February 11, at 6 p.m. with Alderman Vining expecting to be in attendance.
“I’ll listen to all the facts about what the new ordinance will contain, and I’ll go from there,” said Vining.