Auxvasse looks to change fireworks ordinance

This Fourth of July Auxvasse citizens may be able to do something inside city limits they haven't had the opportunity to do in recent years - shoot off fireworks.

Auxvasse City Council members are planning to amend the city's current ordinance to allow for fireworks to be sold and set off inside city limits. Such an amendment was discussed at Tuesday evening's council meeting.

Alderman Mike Bickel said the reason the city is looking to approve a new fireworks policy is to help generate tax revenue with firework sales. Deputy City Clerk Kristen Edwards said the way the current city fireworks ordinance stands, fireworks can't be sold or set off in the city at any time.

Members talked about the possibility of allowing people to shoot fireworks the week before and after the July 4 holiday and on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

"You don't want to allow them all the time. You only want to allow them during a certain period of time," Charlie Anderson, assistant chief of police with the Auxvasse Police Department, told the council.

Anderson suggested making the allowance time of selling fireworks the same as the current state statute on the issue, and then the city making its own time slot for when it will allow the fireworks to be used. Council members decided to check on state statutes before amending the ordinance.

The council also entertained the idea of amending its current ordinance that prohibits certain animals within city limits. Mayor Kevin Phares said he stands by the current ordinance and didn't see a need for an amendment. Anderson said if the ordinance is changed certain specifications need to be spelled out. The members agreed that items such as the number of animals, land requirements and how the animals are kept would need to be addressed. It was decided the current ordinance would be pulled out and discussed at the next council meeting.

The council also passed an ordinance annexing a 1.44-acre tract of land on the east side of Casey's General Store within city limits. The city was told the property is where a proposed Dollar General store would be constructed.