Fireworks Sales Now Legal in Smithville During 4th of July and New Year Holiday Periods

Fireworks sales inside the City limits of Smithville are now legal during the Independence Day and New Year holiday periods.
The Smithville Aldermen Monday night adopted on second and final reading an ordinance authorizing the sale of fireworks under certain conditions. The vote was 4-0. Aldermen Danny Washer, Jason Murphy, Shawn Jacobs, and Gayla Hendrix supported it. Alderman Josh Miller was absent.
Under the new ordinance, a vendor may apply for a permit good for 12 months (June 1 to May 31) at a fee of $500 but sales will only be permitted from June 20 through July 9 and from December 21 through January 5 covering the time periods of Independence Day and New Year’s Day.
Applicants must also adhere to state laws applicable to the sales of fireworks (including obtaining a state fire marshal authorized permit) as well as other regulations outlined in the city ordinance.
Lou Ann White, a city resident, addressed the mayor and aldermen in opposition to the sale of fireworks inside the city limits due to safety reasons. “ It’s too dangerous to have a fireworks stand on a commercial lot near a residential neighborhood with so many people living so close together. It could blow up. I feel that is dangerous,” she said.
White, who sells fireworks herself during the fourth of July each year outside the city, said there could also be fire hazards if a large vendor like Wal-Mart is allowed to sell fireworks. “Walmart will be the number one seller in the city. They will have it inside their building where they had an electrical fire only a few months ago,” said White.
While vendors as large as Wal-Mart could have tents outside their businesses to sell fireworks, one of the requirements in the ordinance is that no structure from which fireworks are sold may exceed 3,200 square feet in size.
Alderman Gayla Hendrix asked Fire Chief Charlie Parker for an opinion on the safety issue, saying she had been contacted by a few people with concerns.
“The only issue I have is with the storage of fireworks (in the event of a fire) but I think the ordinance covers that. If they are stored inside a building there has to be sprinklers. I recommend that they be stored outside the building in a separate metal storage container so we know exactly where they are at. They should not be kept inside the building where it could be a surprise (in the event of a fire),” said Chief Parker.