Fireworks compliance and complaints in Perry were slightly improved over last year’s Fourth of July season, according to the Perry City Council’s ad hoc fireworks committee, formed last year to look closely at the issue.
Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn, a member of the committee, said his department received 66 fireworks complaint calls this year, exactly the same number as were received last year. Vaughn said the department issued five citations, up from three in 2020 but fewer than the eight issued in 2019.
Council member Dr. Randy McCaulley said he got the impression that compliance seemed better this year in terms both of times and places for fireworks usage.
The ad hoc committee recommended continuing to limit fireworks usage to the Fourth of July from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. New this year was the committee’s recommendation to prohibit use in areas zoned as Arterial Commercial or Central Business Commercial, including downtown Perry and the businesses in the First Avenue and Willis Avenue corridors.
“We were a little more proactive and put up some signage this year, especially at the entrance to the park and down in that area,” Vaughn said. He said enforcement of the ordinance remains difficult when officers do not directly witness violations. He said he received reports of citizens helping to police one another in the park.
Ad hoc fireworks committee member and Perry City Council member Barb Wolling said she was the target of a drive-by bottle rocket launched before July 4. The explosive did not strike her, she said, but it set some grass clippings to smoldering.
There was heavy fireworks usage again this year in the community before the Fourth of July, Vaughn said, and even on the Fourth reports were received of people setting them off on sidewalks or after the 11 p.m. limit.
“If we continue on, I think there’s still some education that needs to be done, some continuing education,” Vaughn said. “To me it comes down to a matter of respect. If the ordinance says the Fourth of July from this time to this time, I don’t have a problem with it during that time. It just aggravates me that people don’t want to follow the rules outside of that time or follow the regulations. I think it just shows disrespect for your neighbors and your fellow citizens.”
The fireworks committee will report to the Perry City Council at its next meeting on July 19 at 6 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room of the Towncraft building.
