Quincy rejects fireworks ban

QUINCY - Quincy's fireworks rules are remaining the same after the city council rejected a proposed ordinance to ban them.

All the city council members present at a recent meeting voted against the ordinance. Council members Jeremy McCreary and Tom Harris were absent. The council asked for the ordinance to be created after several residents complained about last year's Fourth of July fireworks.

The proposed ordinance would have allowed special events to keep using fireworks if they applied for a permit, according to city records.

The city code presently allows "safe and sane" fireworks, according to city records. The allowed fireworks include sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, smoke devices and Roman candles.

It presently prohibits firecrackers and other missile-type rockets, according to the code.

The limitation creates problems with enforcement, Police Chief Richard Ackerman said in an August meeting when the council decided to move forward with the ordinance. The chief pointed out officers need to determine whether the fireworks are allowed or not.

Grant County Fire District 3 Chief Don Fortier supported the change, saying people weren't being responsible with fireworks.

"This is a culmination of a long-term effort on the fire (district's) behalf, as well as the police department," Ackerman said at the recent meeting. "(There were) lots and lots of complaints from the community last year and the year prior to that to the size and volume of the fireworks in town."

Councilmember Jose Saldana said fireworks are an American tradition, and restrictions already exist. He suggested the police enforce the present laws.

"I think just because of some people (didn't like the fireworks), we're going to make everyone pay for it, I don't think that's right," he said.

Saldana suggested people needed to contact the police if they see others firing illegal fireworks in the city.

Councilmember Scott Lybbert echoed Saldana, saying he hates when insurance companies dictate changes to the city, and the council has a knee-jerk reaction.

"We just go, 'Well it's going to cost us more. We'll just cut it out,'" he said. "I feel like this is some of that ... Some things we need to fight for. We need to go through and say, 'Wait a minute, what's the root cause?' and work on the root cause of the problem instead of chopping off the head."

He agreed last year was worse than normal, but it doesn't mean the city can't guide it back. Lybbert suggested finding the people or businesses which "stepped out of line."

Councilmember Manuel Guerrero agreed, saying he spoke to a lot of people who didn't want fireworks banned in the city.

"I think (Guerrero) is right," Lybbert said. "We heard from the ones who had problems last year, but I think you're going to hear a lot of dissatisfied people ... (if) we just give up."