City council approves permit for fireworks sale, new ordinance introduced

After a two week delay, the Cairo City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a special event permit for a fireworks sale to be held in the Walmart parking lot June 24 through July 5.
Also Tuesday night, a new fireworks ordinance was introduced and will be voted on in two weeks.
Martina Duvall made application to have the TNT Fireworks sale here next month.
City Attorney Thomas Lehman noted that the new ordinance was required to align local code with the newly passed state law that makes the sale of fireworks legal in Georgia.
The new state law goes into effect July 1 and Lehman noted Tuesday night that for the first few days of the sale all that could be sold are legally approved sparklers. After July 1, all other fireworks legal for sale in Georgia can be sold, according to Lehman.
The new state law prohibits the city from collecting a fee from temporary fireworks vendors until after Jan. 1, 2016.
In Lehman’s proposed ordinance, fireworks could only be sold in C-2 zoning districts within the corporate limits. Temporary structures for fireworks sales must be within 1,000 feet of a hydrant or fire department unless the city fire marshal permits another location in writing.
The proposed ordinance also requires that nonprofit groups benefiting from the sale of fireworks directly participate in the operating of the temporary fireworks retail stand.
Councilman James H. (Jimmy) Douglas questioned that provision and asked how it would be enforced. Lehman noted that is part of state law and recommended it be left in the city ordinance.
“I don’t know what difference it makes anyway. It’s going to be legal to sell them anyway,” Douglas said.
The fee for permanent locations would be $100 and $500 for temporary stands if the ordinance is approved.