By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Fourth of July fireworks are fun. And now it's time for the cleanup. Great Bend's Code Enforcement Supervisor Art Keffer reminds residents that all Independence Day trash needs to be disposed of in a timely manner.
"We usually give them several days before we go looking around," Keffer said. "If we have to write up anybody further, at that point it's trash and refuse, which becomes another issue."
According to Great Bend city ordinance, fireworks are to be discharged only on private property, not public streets. Keffer acknowledges many do use the street but asks that residents now clean up any trash left behind.
"If we wanted to be really painful about it, you're not supposed to be shooting them off in the streets," he said. "We know it's going to happen. What we do ask is that they, in a timely manner - we usually give them several days - to clean it up and make sure there are no hot embers before they throw it in the trash."
Any lingering trash may later fall into a violation of the city's trash and refuse ordinance. In those instances, violators may receive a 10-day courtesy letter from the city. If the violation is still not addressed, the city council may take abatement action on the property.