After taking a few weeks to gather public information on the proposition to allow fireworks in the City of Petal during certain holidays, the Petal Board of Aldermen has withdrawn the request for an ordinance that would allow that measure because of a lack of public support.
That action was taken at the July 18 board meeting, where Ward 3 Alderman Blake Nobles – who proposed the ordinance – said more residents were against the measure than in favor of it.
“Arguably, what was presented at that meeting was that it was a very mixed return, but more people didn’t want it than did,” he said. “We put it out there (for input) so that people would be aware of it and could make that decision, and we’re fine with the way the decision has gone.
“We just wanted people to have that option.”
The ordinance was initially proposed by Nobles at the June 6 aldermen meeting. Under that document, fireworks would be able to be discharged in the city limits on July 4 for Independence Day and on December 31 for New Year’s Eve.
The ordinance also would have made room for fireworks stand at certain areas in the city.
Since the City of Petal was incorporated in 1974, those measures have not been allowed.
In particular, the ordinance would have allowed fireworks to be fired from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on July 4 and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on December 31/January 1. Shooting fireworks outside of those designated times would have resulted in a $50 fine.
The ordinance would have allowed fireworks stands along the Evelyn Gandy Parkway and Mississippi 42; industrially-zoned areas along U.S. 11 would have been considered. Vendors would not be allowed to set up on land that is already developed for another purpose.
No fireworks would be sold or offered for sale at retail within the City of Petal before the fifteenth day of June and after the fifth day of July, and before the fifth day of December and after the second day of January of each year.
Vendors would be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit from city officials, who would then need to approve of specific areas in the city in which the stands would be erected.
On June 20, aldermen agreed to take some more time to get public input before voting on the ordinance.
“We put it up there for everyone to see as much as possible,” Nobles said. “Basically, what the entire thing came down to was whether or not the city wanted it, and for the most part it seemed like people aren’t willing to try it.
“So we withdrew the motion.”
Nobles said he originally proposed the ordinance after he and a couple of other aldermen had been approached by residents who wanted to be allowed to shoot fireworks in the city limits without breaking the law.
“Right now, the city has this ambiguity to where technically we don’t allow it, but there are plenty of people who still do it, and we don’t highly punish them or anything like that, because we understand (people want to celebrate those holidays),” Nobles said in a previous story. “Then you have the other side that really doesn’t want fireworks to be shot at all, and under our current setup, I don’t think either side is really being serviced too well, because there are plenty of people who don’t want to break the law but do want to participate.”
