City Fireworks Ordinance Committee
Author: J B Howick, City Council Member
City Fireworks Ordinance Committee
J B Howick
City Council Member
The Townsend City Fireworks Ordinance Committee met Monday night with members of the public and Mayor Rauser to begin reviewing the Fireworks Ordinance for improvements to public safety, enjoyment, nuisance control, and enforcement. Members of the committee are City Council members Vivian Boaz, Doug Sitton and JB Howick. Shared with the committee were examples of firework abuses within city limits.
Fireworks in Townsend have long been an issue of contention due to their noise, the duration of celebrations, and the debris left behind by revelers. Discussed in Monday night's meetings were supervised public displays, the days fireworks may be used and daily curfews, whether or not fireworks could be used on public streets and whether or not they should be limited to specific locations such as one public park. Also discussed were limitations to the types of fireworks, the possibility of banning fireworks within the city (and the need to seek County input on that matter), the possibility of issuing permits to better control debris and the need to comply with Fire Department environmental bans.
The decision was made to gather examples of existing ordinances from nearby towns and cities. Mayor Rauser offered to ask about what firework ordinances have worked, and which have not, on the Montana Mayor's list-serv. The County Commissioners will be contacted for their opinion about the consequences of limiting fireworks within city boundaries. And the Committee members will consider the options discussed in this meeting.
The Fireworks Committee next meets at 6:00 pm on May 13th.
