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Sioux City Council to Vote on Fireworks Sales and Discharge

Fireworks in Sioux City  051617

Last night the Sioux City Council discussed a draft of an ordinance that would govern the sale and discharge of fireworks. Fireworks sales will be legal in Iowa just over two weeks. The council is asking for public input and a vote at next Monday's meeting. Governor Terry Branstad signed the bill legalizing the sale and discharge of fireworks a week ago. Mayor Bob Scott said lawmakers pushed the law through, and now cities have very little time to come up with a plan. 

80760BobScott :23

“Which is fine if we are going to have fireworks, but then do it the right way and not allow the sales until December. And then I don’t care if the guy from Missouri Valley want to listen to that and give me all kinds of garbage through an email and that guy over in Cedar Rapids, it’s ok, I’ waiting for it. But, it’s stupid to put a law like this in place, with the negative effect it could possibly have, so quickly that you don’t have rules in place." 

The city’s draft ordinance would allow fireworks sales from an approved permanent structure between June 1 and July 8 and from Dec. 10 until Jan. 3, and from temporary structures between June 13 and July 8.  Fireworks would not be allowed after 10 p.m. most of those days.  Sales would be limited to property zoned as general commercial outside the downtown area.  No one under 18 would be allowed to sell or discharge fireworks. 

Sioux City Fire Rescue Chief Tom Everett told the council he was against the sale and discharge of fireworks. He asked the city to limit the number of permits to help out inspections staff, who must review all fireworks selling sites. 

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