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Fireworks rules changed

ESCANABA — Escanaba City Council voted to amend the city’s ordinance to reduce the number of days fireworks can be used during the Fourth of July holiday in response to comments from area residents and petitions submitted at Thursday’s council meeting.

Currently, the city’s fireworks ordinance allows for fireworks to be used on July 4 and four days before and four days after Independence Day. The same local policy applies to Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Following comments from nine residents during a public hearing and submission of a petition containing 248 signatures Thursday, council agreed to have the city administration amend the ordinance bringing fireworks use to the holiday, the day before and the day after in accordance with the minimum state law.

Most of the concerns expressed during the public hearing included the length of days fireworks are allowed to be used in the city as well as the times during the day fireworks can be used. In addition to the nine-day timeframe allowed by the local ordinance, state law allows municipalities of Escanaba’s size to regulate the use of fireworks only between 1-8 a.m.

According to a 2013 state law, a local unit of government with a population of less than 50,000 located in a county with a population of less than 750,000, such as Escanaba, may regulate the use of fireworks between the specified seven-hour period.

Larger municipalities may ­regulate the use of fireworks between midnight and 8 a.m. or between the hours of 1-8 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Public comments received Thursday included residents upset with fireworks going off during the early morning hours for the nine-day period, affecting people’s sleep and those suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, such as veterans.

Other concerns focused on fireworks scaring children and animals and affecting individuals with autism, who can be very sensitive to noises. Comments received Thursday also included fireworks being potential fire hazards when lit around buildings, especially homes.

In addition to changing the number of days and the specific hours fireworks can be used, one resident suggested the city create a noise ordinance that would include fireworks.

Escanaba Public Safety Director Rob LaMarche addressed the fireworks issue, stating that police are limited to what can be enforced according to the law.

During the nine-day period surrounding Escanaba’s Fourth of July, Escanaba Public Safety received 147 fireworks complaints which included calls from out of the city limits. Sixty-five fireworks complaints came in during the three-day period of July 3-5, he said.

Because of state law, local police could only respond to 16 of the fireworks complaints because these incidents involved fireworks being lit after 1 a.m. or damaging property, explained LaMarche. Police must also witness the fireworks being lit in order to issue a citation, he added.

“This is a huge problem,” commented LaMarche. “We don’t like it either… but we’re hamstrung by state law.”

Following public comment, council members agreed the length of days should be shortened to match the minimum state law of the day of the holiday, the day before, and the day after.

“I want to see a change in the ordinance,” said Mayor Marc Tall, calling for a reduction in the number of days fireworks are allowed around the Fourth of July.

Concerns were expressed by council members Ralph Blasier and Michael Sattem that even with the reduction in days, the amendment likely won’t stop the problems of illegal fireworks in the city.

Council member Pat Baribeau expressed her appreciation for the good points presented by the public on Thursday.

“I wish people would be more considerate of one another,” she added, regarding those who use fireworks late at night.

Following Thursday’s meeting, LaMarche said he was pleased with the action council took in response to the citizens’ concerns.

“I’m glad they listened to the people and will look at changing the ordinance to mirror the state law,” said LaMarche.

Council agreed to allow the city attorney time to look into other municipalities that have expanded the hours of prohibited use of fireworks beyond the state law. The process to amend the local ordinance will begin in four weeks.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net

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