By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Warsaw City Council has proposed a fireworks ordinance that would limit the use of loud consumer fireworks during non-holiday portions of the year to 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

State law regulates fireworks use throughout the year. In general, it is legal to set off fireworks from 9 a.m. through 11 p.m. On state holidays, people can set off fireworks from 9 a.m. until midnight. However, local ordinances may limit these firework times.

The idea of further restricting the use of fireworks remains a hot debate for council members.

The proposal was set forth by a committee assembled months ago to look at the issue, but two of the three council members on the committee (Josh Finch and Michael Klondaris) did not support the new proposal.

The ordinance passed on first reading, 5-1 with one abstention. Those voting for it were Jack Wilhite, Diane Quance, Jeff Grose, Cindy Dobbins and Jerry Frush. Finch voted against it and Klondaris abstained.

Violations could result in a $150 fine for the first offense and $250 for each subsequent offense.

Council President Wilhite said the proposal is a good compromise.

The proposal also includes a provision requiring fireworks vendors to post the ordinance. Wilhite said it’s important to let the public know what the policy is.

Grose said the ordinance encourages people to be “good neighbors.”

Finch called it a “drastic measure right out of the gate.”

He said he thinks police have other priorities and wondered aloud how many fireworks complaints police receive.

“I think our police staff is already short-staffed,” Finch said. “I’d certainly hate to see them run around chasing their tail on a fireworks issue if they can’t find the culprit.”

“I think it’s going to be really hard to enforce,” Finch said.

A veteran with post-traumatic stress spoke in support of the proposal, which he sees as a compromise.

After the vote, Dobbins said she wants to hear more input from the public. Quance agreed.

“For this to work, this is going to require community involvement,” Quance said.

Dobbins added that the policy won’t work without the public’s support.