Bastrop, Louisiana board votes to restrict fireworks

The Bastrop, Louisiana Board of Aldermen voted to allow the continued use and sale of holiday pyrotechnic razzle dazzle with a few stipulations. Only bottle rockets will be banned, and vendors will be required to post the hours of allowable fireworks discharge at their tents.

Last year concerned citizens addressed the board about the dangers of fireworks and the litter they produce. The board initially approved a ban, then retracted its decision when fireworks vendors and citizens who enjoy the holiday tradition delivered the other side of the story.

Last night Mayor Clarence Hawkins urged the board to make a final decision as vendors had begun making applications to buy licenses for the next year.

Board member Betty Alford-Olive moved to limit the ban to bottle rockets only, citing its prominence in past discussions as a fire hazard to homeowners.

"Throughout all of the this, the bottle rocket keeps rearing its ugly head," said Alford-Olive.

The compromise she proposed, which was seconded by alderman Arthur Hamlin, also required fireworks vendors to post the dates and hours Bastrop residents are allowed to discharge their fireworks.

Before the vote was taken, Hawkins noted the decision to allow or ban fireworks would have no bearing on whether the city decides to provide public holiday displays in the future. Hawkins also said funds were available for displays.

Hawkins confessed he enjoys discharging fireworks with family members, saying, "They're part of my history."

The vote was not unanimous. Aldermen Eddie Gorden and Boo Robinson voted against the new ordinance, but for very different reasons.

Robinson supported a total ban on fireworks, citing statistical evidence that the expenses incurred by the Bastrop police and fire departments because of fireworks misuse is not worth the revenue vendors bring to the city. However, Hamlin said emergency calls tend to go up during every holiday regardless of whether fireworks are involved.

Gorden said he would not support any new restrictions on fireworks -- much less a total ban -- because he had received numerous calls, letters and personal visits from constituents within city limits who want to retain their freedom to discharge fireworks.

Finally, the board heard vendor Mitch Hale, who owns two pieces of property in Bastrop and produced a petition against a total ban with some 1,000 signatures. Hale said since fireworks could still be sold in the parish, banning their sale inside the city would not prevent people from discharging them in city limits.

"You're just going to change where people buy them, not where they discharge them," Hale said.

The vote was three to one.

In other business, certified public accountant Cindy Haynes presented the board a report following the annual audit of the city's fiscal year which ended June 30, 2007. Haynes reported the city of Bastrop operated at $10,508,000 safely within its budget of $10,540,000. Total general funds revenues were $10,520,000.

Hawkins thanked city staff and department heads for working within the budget.

"You do an excellent job of managing and providing services with the limited means we have," Hawkins said.