×

FD council primed for fireworks debate

City proposes establishing local rules

The rules for using and selling fireworks in Fort Dodge will be established by the City Council when it meets Monday.

The council’s expected action will come in the wake of a new state law making the sales and use of many kinds of fireworks legal.

But before the elected officials get to work on fireworks, they’ll receive an update on the efforts to renovate the Warden Plaza at 908 First Ave. S.

The council’s work will begin at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S., with a set of workshops.

The first workshop will be about the long-vacant Warden Plaza which now has a potential new future. KDG LLC, of Columbia, Missouri, now owns the building and plans to put apartments, a restaurant, stores and an art gallery in it. A frequently talked about plan calls for tearing down the adjacent Wahkonsa Annex and building a new recreation center there.

A business retention report will be the focus of the second workshop.

The council’s regular business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building. That’s when the elected officials will take up the fireworks rules.

The proposed city rules on fireworks would do the following:

• Ban the possession of fireworks by anyone under the age of 18.

• Enable the police to confiscate fireworks from anyone under the age of 18.

• Prohibit the use of fireworks by anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Set a fine of $750 for second and subsequent violations of fireworks rules.

• Require those who sell fireworks to have a $2 million insurance policy.

• Establish a $500 fee for licensing and inspecting fireworks sales outlets.

Adopting such rules would generally require three affirmative votes by the City Council. However, because the new state law allows fireworks sales to begin June 1, City Manager David Fierke is recommending that the rules be given final approval on one vote Monday.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today