Citizens of Monroe: This is your town and it is time for your voice to be heard! One of my goals that I had set out for myself was to undo the fireworks ordinance that was put into place about 5 years ago. Here is what the ordinance currently states:
5.0302 Fireworks Prohibited. Public use of fireworks within the Town of Monroe shall be limited to those specific Class 1.4G fireworks having no audible report or projectile or launching components. Examples of prohibited use fireworks include, but are not limited to, fire crackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, parachutes, and similar devices intended to propel or project flaming or explosive materials. Fireworks may not be used on any public sidewalk, street, or alleyway. The violation of any provision of this Section shall be subject to a $25.00 fine. Any person found in violation of this Section may, within 72 hours of the time when the notice of violation was given, pay to the office of the Town Finance Officer, as a fine for and in full satisfaction of the violation, the sum of $25.00. If a person found in violation fails to pay the sum within the 72-hour period, he or she may pay to the office of the Town Finance Officer, within the next 2 weeks from the date of violation, as a fine for and in full satisfaction of the violation, the sum of $50.00. Upon failure of a person found in violation to pay either of the sums to the office of the Town Finance Officer within the time periods indicated, and upon conviction of a violation of this Section, the person found in violation shall be fined $75.00 plus court costs, which fine shall be collected by the Magistrate Court. Any person claimed to be in violation also has the right to contest the charges or plead “not guilty” within the time periods indicated above, and have the matter transferred to Magistrate Court. The penalties in this Section may be adjusted by resolution of the Town Board. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the use of a public display of fireworks in the Town, provided that any person responsible for such public display shall, prior thereto, receive approval for a permit from the Town Board. (SDCL 3437, 9-33-1)
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Wow! Most of this silly paragraph talks about what they will do to you if you ignore their new ordinance. I am just TRYING TO RESTRAIN myself here. Does this anger anyone else ? Am I the only one that despises this crock of shit! I want my freedom back! Here is the ordinance that the City of Marion has written; I like this one much more.
Fireworks Prohibited – Exceptions. The use, throwing, lighting, firing, display or sale of fireworks within the City shall only be authorized in accordance with SDCL Chapter 34‑37. The use of fireworks may be permitted from June 27 to July 5 of each year. Fireworks may be used from the hours of 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. except for July 4, when fireworks may be used from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person, firm, or corporation duly permitted by the Marion City Council to discharge fireworks for public entertainment at any public celebration in the City of Marion. In cases of extremely dry seasons in which a significant fire hazard exists, the Marion City Council shall be empowered to prohibit the use of any fireworks from June 27 to July 5 within the City limits of the City of Marion
Wow; I read this and I think it is GREAT!
It is time for people to talk. I want to hear from everyone what they want. If there are enough people that do not want the fireworks privilege to be given back to our town then I will push my personal wishes aside and cast my vote as such. The process of revoking the ordinance is just at the beginning phase; my goal will be to have it completed before June 2016.
This is a very unprofessional response to this ordinance. Let’s have you identify yourself. I support the present ordinance. I have received property damage and do not like cleaning up fireworks leftovers on my property. There is no reason why fireworks can’t be discharged outside of city limits or at a designated place such as the ballpark.
I have to agree with Brad, (his name is posted). The citizens should be able to let off fireworks. I know of no damage to anyone’s personal property, if there was no police report was filed by you, Mr.Unruh or any other citizen in the town of Monroe. Unprofessional? Why? He is voicing his opinion. So sorry if the slang word offends you but he speaks his mind. If there was firework leftovers on your wife’s property perhaps she should have contacted the neighbor to clean it up, I am sure they would of happily done so. I know that when we shot fireworks off we always went into all our neighbors property and beyond to clean up. Our son serving over seas in the Army makes us proud and celebrating our freedom is important to us.
Steve,
Thanks for expressing your opinion on this matter. And no city ordinance can give someone the right to damage personal property. I too think that myself and others have enjoyed shooting fireworks off at the ballpark. But according to how our current ordinance is written; this is an illegal act. And a city council man cannot just give permission for this. This is another reason that I wish to rewrite the ordinance.
You are correct no single board member can make any decision on anything. A board member can make a motion at a meeting to use the ballpark for town residents to display fire works from such a date to another.
Like almost all laws, I believe this comes down to two things. 1. common sense, no law will ever make it ok to fire a mortar at your garage, however, any law can be broken so no law can prevent that either. & 2. persona;l responsibility, The person that damaged your house or littered in your yard should have taken that responsibility. BUT no one else should loose rights or freedoms because some moron shot your house! Thats on him/her! lets lift this ban and trust that we have smart, responsible and respectful citizens in our great town!
Well. I have still not changed my opinion about what I want; but it looks as though I will not get the change 100% my way. There was a compromise done at the meeting. We are rewriting the ordinance to allow fireworks at your home but only if they are not designed to leave the ground. For those that want 100% fireworks of all types in your backyard – sorry. I tried and the consensus was 12 people against and only 4 in favor.