By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Changes in state law may change how Barton County residents bring in the New Year. During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Environmental Management Director Judy Goreham provided details about the changes pertaining only to permanent structures in unincorporated locations in the county.
“What has changed is, if you have a brick-and-mortar structure, you can sell fireworks year-round,” Goreham explained. “What happens is counties are allowed to consider that, then consider when they’d want to allow it: all year, specific holidays, or whatever.”
Seasonal permits are issued around the Fourth of July each year and may include tents or non-permanent structures. Goreham said a request to expand sales at permanent locations from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 was submitted.
“I think it’s a good situation for the county because you’re going to have tax sales coming in from those additional fireworks, and it will be a fun thing for people to do on New Year’s Eve,” said Goreham.
The commission approved the new resolution to allow the sales in the final week of the year, rescinding an old resolution passed in August 2013. However, commissioners were quick to point out the new resolution applies only to unincorporated areas of the county. Each city will still have its own ordinances pertaining to fireworks sales and discharge. Goreham said it will be up to local businesses to obtain a license through the state.
“One thing that is significantly different from seasonal sales is that the state fire marshal is 100 percent tasked with approving, licensing, permitting, all of that, of these retailers,” she said. “Before they can actually operate in the county, they’re going to have solicit whatever they have to solicit from the state fire marshal and get approved for that.”