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Under state push, RC expands fireworks times

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Rogers City City Manager Joe Hefele, far right, explains the city’s new fireworks ordinance to members of the City Council on Tuesday.

ROGERS CITY — The Rogers City City Council begrudgingly began to amend its fireworks ordinance on Tuesday to align with newly amended state law, which Mayor Scott McLennan likened to a state mandate.

The first reading was passed unanimously during the board’s Tuesday meeting

The law alters the dates and times fireworks can be used statewide and allows fireworks to be used during the week of the Fourth of July from 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. June 29 through July 4.

Prior to the newly enacted law, residents could shoot off fireworks between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 a.m. the day before, day of, and after national holidays, Rogers City City Manager Joe Hefele said Tuesday.

The new state law expands the dates when fireworks are allowed.

“Rogers City isn’t embracing the idea of people shooting off fireworks within inches of their neighbors’ homes,” Hefele said.

He explained that City Council members had two choices — they could not adopt the ordinance and have a 365-day free-for-all, or they could adopt the ordinance with the dates and times specified by the state, allowing the city to enforce the state law.

Under the state law, residents can now shoot fireworks off after 11 a.m. on the following days:

∫ Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1,

∫ the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day, until 11:45 p.m.,

∫ June 29 to July 4, until 11:45 p.m. each day,

∫ July 5, if that date is a Friday or Saturday, and

∫ the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day, until 11:45 p.m.

McLennan voiced his concern over the lack of local control given to the city on the matter. He said it’s “disappointing” the state is mandating when the city has to allow fireworks.

“That local control should be preserved,” he said.

Councilman Gary Nowak suggested sending a letter to state representatives, stating their opposition to the new law.

“I’ve been here a long time, and I’ve never had an issue where I’ve gotten so many calls about the fireworks,” he said. “And now that they’re expanding it, it’s going to be even worse.”

Council members agreed that, while they couldn’t change the law, they could protest it by sending a letter to lawmakers.

The city’s ordinance also increases the maximum fine for those shooting off fireworks outside of the set timeframes to $1,000 from $500.

Additionally, the local fire marshal is allowed to ban the use of fireworks if the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ fire rating for the area is at the highest level. The state fire marshal can also issue a statewide ban.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.

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