There seems to be one common train of thought with area community leaders as their city councils review the newly enacted Senate File 489 that allows for the sale and use of first and second-class fireworks in the state. Each individual township or municipality is tasked with determining how they will regulate sales and whether or not they will allow use of one class or the other or both. The Mayors of Breda and Templeton, Mike Schwabe and Ken Behrens, say their communities, like many others, are taking a slow, wait-and-see approach. Schwabe says they don’t have as many concerns with sales as they do with use.
Schwabe says one of his biggest concerns is that if use of fireworks does become a problem in Breda, it will create an issue for the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, who will respond to violations. According to Behrens, Templeton council members are just beginning to review information the legislature has provided on the new law.
At this point in time, the Breda city ordinance puts first and second-class fireworks into one category, and they are all prohibited. Schwabe says they will be keeping the status quo with their current ordinance for now.
The Breda council only meets one time per month, so opening it for discussion at their June 12 meeting and then bringing it back at the next meeting would place the deciding vote after July 4. These delays, Schwabe adds, could have been avoided if the bill had passed in January or February. Behrens agrees that the adoption of the new law has forced a quick timeline for all of them.
Templeton will hold their next council meeting on June 6. Behrens adds they really have never had an issue with fireworks use in Templeton and no one has requested permission for sales in town. Schwabe says if someone wants to come to Breda to sell fireworks, the council would likely keep sales restricted to the commercial district. Sales of fireworks in permanent structures across the state opens today (Thursday) and runs through July 8.
