Ellis County Commissioners met briefly this morning to discuss appropriate times and dates for the discharge of fireworks within the county.

The commission had not discussed the issue at previous regular-session meetings. Notice of the special session was sent out Wednesday afternoon. Rural Fire Director Dick Klaus made a formal recommendation on the matter.

The measure, which authorizes the shooting of fireworks from 10 a.m. until midnight Friday through Sunday, was quickly approved.

The days correspond to the allowed period designated within Hays and, thus, "makes it a lot simpler for people to know what's going on," Klaus said.

Commissioner Perry Henman then expressed a desire to discuss a mass-texting program suggested last month by Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Ring, but that idea was quashed after realizing the meeting had been called to order specifically to discuss fireworks and no other business.