By Bonnie Culverhouse
Minden has a thing about fireworks … kind of like parades … nobody does it better. But like anything else, fireworks need to be regulated, and the city has no ordinances for ordnances.
During a city council workshop Monday, Mayor Nick Cox asked members about fireworks complaints, many of whom had none.
Currently, fireworks are sold between Christmas and New Year’s, as well a few days leading up to Independence Day.
“Juneteenth is now recognized as a national holiday, and we have no provisions to sell during Juneteenth celebrations,” Cox said. “It would make sense to back it up from July 4 to take in June 19 and sell them during that time.”
Fireworks retailer and specialist Ron Hathorne warned against allowing fireworks to be detonated throughout that entire time period.
“They should be able to purchase and shoot them that one day,” he said.
The only regulation on Minden’s books is a “noise” ordinance that is difficult to enforce when applied to fireworks.
“A cutoff time, maybe with the exception of New Year’s, would be good,” Cox said.
Deputy Chief Chris Cheatham agreed, saying “anything after midnight shouldn’t be popped. It’s hard to get kids in bed when your neighbors are popping off utility shells.”
Cox also brought weddings, private parties and other special events into the discussion for a more “formalized process.”
“It’s one thing to shoot a Roman candle in your yard by yourself and another thing to have a huge, neighborhood-wide display where people are not aware of what’s happening,” Cox said. “For a big, private show, maybe we have it where they apply for a permit that lets the fire and police departments know.”
Hathorne said not only is a permit needed, but also a fire department site inspection.
“I’m not talking about sparklers at a wedding, but at a party, a permit to do a special show needs to be put in place,” said the owner of Hathorne Fireworks in Minden. “As the ordinances are written, (some downtown events) broke the law. You can’t shoot them except during the times where we can sell. Any show shot downtown outside the retail times – they’re breaking the law.”
Hathorne added that a public fireworks display requires the presence of a fire marshal and a state permit 15 days in advance of the event.
Cox asked the council for input and said, with Hathorne’s help, he would like to have an ordinance in place soon.