Iowans have a new liberty to prize thanks to the new state fireworks bill passed this year, and Perry-area patriots will soon be able to consume explosives legally at a temporary tent outlet planned at the four corners of Iowa Highway 141 and U.S. Highway 169.
Randy Rudolf of Prole, owner of the long-vacant diner at 22983 141st St., said he has applied for a state retailers license and now is waiting on paperwork. Retail and wholesale fireworks licenses are issued by the State Fire Marshal Division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
“We applied for a permit,” Rudolf said Sunday. “That’s all I can tell you. I just got them that stuff on Friday, so I imagine I’ll be hearing from them by Monday or Tuesday.”
According to the new state law, licensed retailers will be allowed to sell fireworks out of permanent structures between June 1 and July 8 and from temporary structures between June 13 to July 8.
Rudolf said he hopes to start selling June 13 out of a temporary structure at the four corners.
“We’re doing a tent,” he said. “We don’t care about the building.”
The Perry City Council is expected to amend the city’s fireworks ordinance at its June 5 meeting in order to permit residents to “discharge a consumer fireworks device” within certain conditions.
Fireworks within the city limits of Perry can be legally exploded only on July 4 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. In addition, the use of fireworks in town :
- is limited to adults over the age of 18
- is prohibited “on any public street, public sidewalk, public park or cemetery.”
- is prohibited within 200 yards of a hospital or senior care facility.
- is prohibited “by persons over the legal alcohol limit or under the influence of a drug or narcotic.”
Violations of the city’s fireworks ordinance will incur a $500 fine.
In the unincorporated parts of Dallas County, the state law limiting usage applies: Fireworks can be set off between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. from June 1 to July 8, with expanded hours on July 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and also on the Saturday and Sunday before and after July 4.
Rudolf said he has arranged a supplier and will sell his goods as is.
“I’m not demonstrating nothing unless we don’t sell them,” he said. “Then we’re going to have a hell of a display.”
Iowa is the 44th U.S. state to permit the legal sale of retail consumer fireworks.
It is absolutely ridiculous that the law does not apply the same everywhere in the state. For each city to have its own rules pertaining to fireworks is going to cause more problems that what it should. Visitors to communities will not know what they can do. I am not for or against fireworks. I am just saying the same law should apply to all.
I forgot to mention: he says he could care less about the building. It is an absolute eyesore and should be torn down.
You can tell it will be a first-class operation by the way he’s taken care of his property over the years right next to the pedophile motel.