Since its incorporation in 1974, The City of Petal has disallowed the sale or usage of fireworks within the city limits, as have many municipalities throughout Mississippi.
That rule may soon be eased up with a new ordinance recently proposed by Ward 3 Alderman Blake Nobles, which would allow fireworks to be sold on July 4 for Independence Day and December 31 for New Year’s Eve. The ordinance, which was put forth by Nobles at the June 6 meeting of the Petal Board of Aldermen, also would allow fireworks stands at certain areas in the city.
“What motivated the proposition is that I and a couple of other aldermen have had people that want to be able to shoot fireworks,” Nobles said. “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).
“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. Case in point, I have already heard my first fireworks of this Fourth of July season.”
Under the proposed ordinance, fireworks would be able to be fired from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on July 4, and from 10 a.m.-1 a.m. on December 31/January 1. Shooting fireworks outside of those designated times would result in a $50 fine.
The ordinance also would allow fireworks stands along the Evelyn Gandy Parkway and Mississippi 42; industrially-zoned areas along U.S. 11 also are being 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.
“We just wanted to be able to give an opportunity for our residents to be able to participate, to be able to shoot fireworks and celebrate the holidays,” Nobles said. “But also, (we wanted) to come down a little harder on the time where we don’t allow fireworks to be shot – to say ‘hey, there are residents that don’t want this for a week or two weeks continuously.’
“We’re going to police that a little bit harder, and make sure that we try and walk this balance. If it doesn’t work for us – or if our people don’t want the ordinance – then that’s fine, and we’ll stay the same way (we are now).”
The ordinance will be discussed further in the near future before being voted on by the board of aldermen. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to reach out to their respective aldermen and give their opinions, whether for or against the measure; that contact information can be found online at https://cityofpetal.com/boa.
Nobles said officials from the city’s police and fire departments have reviewed the proposed ordinance and given their approval of the measure.
“I, for one, really want people to get in touch with their alderman, because that’s the best way we know to see what people think,” he said. “If you are in support of this, or if you stand against it, let us know, because right now it’s kind of up in the air for all of us.”
