City shortens allowed time for fireworks
By KAREN MIKOLS
Even though the Fourth of July holiday is about two months away, the Hays City Commission set hour and date regulation for setting off fireworks.
In a unanimous vote, commissioners approved fireworks from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 3 to 5.
"I know we've had a longer window in the past, but for safety and noise purposes, I think we should shorten it," Commissioner Troy Hickman said.
For the last few years, residents were allowed to purchase and discharge fireworks from June 27 to July 5. This year, fireworks will be sold during those dates, but only legally discharged from July 3 to 5.
The change is in an effort to unify the city and county rules regarding fireworks, but Fire Chief Gary Brown said the county won't have a recommendation on acceptable dates until the end of May or early June.
"In the event that closer to the time, there is a weather emergency or something, you can do another resolution if the weather turns pretty bad," City Attorney John T. Bird said.
The city is required to set fireworks dates by June 15 of each year, but the issue is being addressed in early May to allow vendors time to decide how much volume to purchase for stands in Hays, Hickman said.
In other action, the commission:
* Presented commercial improvement awards to Cedar Lodge Dental Center, Hess Clinic, Maytag Home Appliance Center and Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
* Unanimously approved the mayoral appointment of Errol Wuertz to the Airport Advisory Committee and Debra Staab to the Hays Housing Authority Board.
* Postponed discussion regarding expanding the Hays Recreation Commission to include additional fitness facilities. The item will be on a future agenda.
* Heard a presentation regarding R9 Ranch finances and EQUIP program.
There are 3,502 acre feet that are not irrigated as part of the EQUIP program, which saves about 8 billion gallons of water on the ranch.
Dougherty said that in 2006, there was a $73,000 net income on the ranch and a 2009 estimate of $208,000 net income.
* Unanimously approved the final plat of Tallgrass Third Addition.
