By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Organizations across the United States are ready to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday later this summer. Add the city of Great Bend to the mix. During Monday’s city council meeting, the council approved the discharge of fireworks on July 3 from 10 a.m. to midnight, in addition to the usual allowed time of 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. City Administrator Logan Burns presented the issue to the council.
“The city council has an option to allow a fireworks discharge ordinance,” Burns said. “The option is a broader ordinance that will allow the city council to approve the discharge of fireworks through a resolution for specific dates. This would create a process where the council could approve the discharge of fireworks on different dates other than July 4 when appropriate.”
The council recently approved a similar ordinance for alcoholic beverage sales at certain city events. The ordinance still requires council approval for any special requests. Representatives from T&L Fireworks and Fireworks for Less communicated with Burns, council members, Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith, and Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark about allowing the discharge of fireworks from July 1-4 this year. Ashley Klein spoke for both businesses at Monday’s meeting.
“Since submitting the letter, we’ve had productive conversations continued on with Logan, members of this council, and both the fire and police chiefs,” she said. “As a result, we’ve revised our request to allowing the fireworks discharge on July 3 and 4 only. That seems to be the consensus, and we want to make sure what we’re doing is prioritizing public safety and respect for residents and pets.”
The council approved the new ordinance 8-0, then approved the resolution allowing the discharge of fireworks on July 3 and 4 with an 8-0 vote. In the consent agenda, the council approved the city’s fireworks show at the Expo Complex for Friday, July 3, with a back-up date of July 11.