The vote on a proposed ordinance that would allow the usage and sale of fireworks in the City of Petal for two nights a year has been tabled, in order to allow officials to get more input from residents on the matter.
That decision was made at the June 20 meeting of the Petal Board of Aldermen, when board members agreed to take a little more time to make sure the ordinance was helpful to all sides involved.
“It’s an alderman initiative; it’s not something that I’ve tried to push,” Mayor Tony Ducker said. “It’s one of the only ordinances that we’ve got – it dates back to 1974.
“So the board’s just taking a little extra time to make sure we get this as close to being what we want in the end.”
The ordinance was initially proposed by Ward 3 Alderman Blake Nobles at the June 6 board meeting. If passed, it would allow fireworks to be discharged on July 4 for Independence Day and December 31 for New Year’s Eve.
It also would make room for fireworks stands at certain areas in the city.
“Since it was tabled, it at least has to be address as ‘old business’ at the next meeting,” Ducker said. “Whether we table it again to give it some more time, (I don’t know). My personal thoughts, I’m a little hesitant on it – the input I’ve got from residents is that they weren’t really for it.
“It does create issues for our military folks with PTSD, folks with animals and the elderly. I know one of the issues is that they’re doing it anyway, but I think that by legalizing it, you’re going to get more of it, so that would be a concern. But in the end, whatever the board votes is what we’ll uphold as an administration.”
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.
“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 after proposing the ordinance. “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.”
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).”
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.”
