Photo: Sarah Gill
Mayor Lioneld Jordan plans to ask the Fayetteville City Council to approve an amendment that would allow the use of consumer fireworks on the first Saturday following the lifting of the citywide burn ban, city attorney Kit Williams said on Monday.
As is stands, city code states that fireworks may only be legally discharged inside the city limits between July 1-4. Williams said Jordan’s proposal includes an emergency clause that would allow the change to take effect immediately. The change would also apply to any future burn bans issued during the Fourth of July holiday.
The council will hear the issue during its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 3.
Extreme heat and dry conditions led to a burn ban issued last week in Fayetteville that prohibits outdoor burning, including the use of fireworks. Fayetteville Fire Marshal Harley Hunt later issued a statement allowing the use of outdoor contained grilling.
Fayetteville police Cpl. Dan Montgomery said those caught using fireworks during a ban could be issued a fine of $120.
Pre-permitted, professional fireworks displays, such as the display scheduled for July 4 at the Northwest Arkansas Mall, will still go on as planned.
Since the ban was issued the day before it was legal to sell fireworks and the vendors had already paid their $500.00 permit fee and invested in the stock and tents, maybe the days they are allowed to sell fireworks should be extended through the weekend. They tell me their sales have been off by 75%-80%. The main reason we even allow for the sale in the city limits is to collect the sales tax from them. They should be given a chance to salvage a bad situation.
I Agree with you Mr Coody
How much in sales taxes and permit fees were collected from fireworks sales during Mr. Coody’s eight years in office? None. Fireworks sales were illegal in the city during that time, and the sales taxes went to the state and county. It is good to see that Mr. Coody has changed his position and has a new found concern for the vendors in 2012, totally unrelated to his present campaign or the chance for an opportunistic slap at the current mayor and council.
really a dumb idea. fireworks vendors face the same risks as festival vendors and any other outdoor event. you play your cards, you take your chances and then you go home.
WAIT, I know–everyone in town is invited up to Coody’s meadow on top of Mt. Sequoyah for a fioreworks make up day. Ok Dan?
Does that mean you disagree with giving them more opportunity to sell their product?
Dan
Are you working? You seem to gave lots of free time. Where have you been for the last 4 years? Go back to your cave and take Deb with you. November can’t come soon enough.
Not sure what this comment has to do with the subject at hand. Bet you think you are a very clever person
now that you have been able to hurl a few insults.
feel better about yourself now?
Go back to my cave? Where do you think I am writing this from?
And from what I’ve heard, it’s the most energy-efficient cave in the world.
In energy efficiency of the building envelope, it’s the windows that get you.
I made a post for you, David, but put it the bottom. My bad.
I saw it. Thank you. Are there any photos or specifications of your cave online?
Terrible idea. City officials want to encourage fireworks on the first day a burn ban is lifted, while Colorado, Utah, and other Western states are burning with unprecedented wildfires? You’ve got to be kidding. THINK
Let me understand this. If the fire ban is lifted it will mean we have enough moisture. That would mean the risk of fire is no greater than under normal circumstances. What does that have to do with Colorado and Utah?
It can’t be too bad an idea; Springdale did it.
A burn ban isn’t just lifted because it’s past some arbitrary date. From a moisture standpoint I would think that having fireworks on the first day the ban is lifted is better than say the 5th day after (rain between days 1 and 5 not withstanding of course).
i’m with you dgold. i like to make decisions makes on the risk or reward. in this case, the risk (wildfire) is not worth the reward (loud pops and sparkles). this is coming from someone who loves fireworks.
I think it’s funny that both Jordan and Coody are pandering to the fireworks vote. Ree-d**n-diculous.
it takes a descent amount of rain to lift a burn ban….. so whats the big deal of letting off fire works after rain???? it will probably be next spring anyway the way it has been looking….
I assume the burn ban isn’t going to be lifted until we get a substantial rain. They’re not going to lift the ban until the risk is gone. In that case, what’s the harm? I support the idea.
Last year, fire in N Mexico got started a day or 2 after they lifted a burn ban. (Lifted to celebrate some holiday.) Think they had a burn ban in place when fires started in Co? Last I heard they were under a “red flag” after fires started and did a burn ban when it was shameful not to. Not having a burn ban doesn’t mean it’s safe. It’s not all science. Politics gets into it. Keep people liking you, make the tourists think we’re always grilling. Look at Coody and Jordan now.
Just another example of the long-standing American tradition of rescheduling holidays to meet the demands of business and greed.
I don’t think the city council is considering re scheduling Independence Day . I read this as allowing citizens to legally discharged at a future date when it is safer.
Moving the festivities to another date is akin to rescheduling the holiday. Just like trick-or-treating a couple days early or having a news years celebration a day late. It’s dumb. I don’t think it’s the end of the world but it speaks volumes about our culture. We celebrate when it’s convenient.
Awesome pic. ;)
Well, maybe not the world…but who knows? We just have the best HERS certification on record in the U.S. And for windows? True, to a point. But if you orient the windows properly, use the right heat gain and U-value factors, they can be a very positive addition.
FYI, we just looked at our June electricity usage. We generated 20 times more power than we consumed. To be more precise, with fridge running, lights, tile saws, ceiling fans, computer, and keeping the temp in the home at about 72, we used a total of 60 kWh. That’s about $5. worth of electricity. We generated 1,220 kWh of renewable electricity free to SWEPCO who then sold it to our neighbors. YeeHAAA!! Go, Cave, Go!
Oops! That post was for Mr. Franks.
Does Swepco not pay you for the power you generate into their grid?
Nope! Not in Arkansas. We are one of 17 states where there is no incentive to produce green power. Not a good way for Arkansas to attract the next generation of industry.
I wouldn’t say there is NO “incentive to produce green power,” although it might not be helpful to you personally. State law could be stronger, assuming the big utility lobbyists would allow it, but it is not true to say Arkansas has “no incentive.”
The Arkansas Energy website says:
“Legislation enacted in April 2007 (HB 2334) bolstered the existing statute by increasing the availability of net metering, improving the law’s provision for the carryover of net excess generation (NEG), and clarifying the ownership of “renewable-energy credits” (RECs).
Residential renewable-energy systems up to 25 kilowatts (kW) in capacity and nonresidential systems up to 300 kW in capacity are eligible for net metering. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass systems, as well as fuel cells and microturbines using renewable fuels. There is no limit on the aggregate capacity of all net-metered systems.
The 2007 amendments allow net-metered customers to carry over any NEG to their following monthly bill at the utility’s retail rate. Any NEG remaining at the end of an annual billing cycle is granted to the utility. (Previously, NEG was granted to the utility monthly.) In addition, the 2007 amendments clarified that net-metered customers own RECs. (RECs and REC ownership were not addressed prior to the 2007 amendments.)
Yes, I know the law. No, there is not a real incentive to provide green energy to the grid in excess of what you will use. You get credit for what you produce minus what you use. On January 1, your accumulated credits go away and you start over at zero. “Any Net Energy Generation remaining at the end of an annual billing cycle is granted to the utility.” (FOR FREE) Solar systems are not cheap enough to make this equation cost effective. We live in an area that gets much more solar energy than other places that have great incentives. In other states the power company pays the producer a premium for green power. Here, it was a struggle just to get credit for it to offset what you use. And they still limit the size of your system. Call that an “incentive” if you want, but fossil fuel is still in the driver’s seat. If there were a real incentive, more people would have solar systems and we could reduce the need to build more coal plants in Arkansas. I am continuing to work to change this law.
Whatever.
Thank you for the information. RE windows, regardless of the thermal efficiency of the window or its orientation, it is unlikely to be as efficient as the wall assembly it sits in. I don’t trust that people who don’t appear to know where you live would know that there might be good reasons to live in a cave, even if you don’t choose to do so.
You miss the point. We have great views, lots of natural daylight, warm sun streaming in during winter, and we still use almost no electricity. I guess one could live in a totally dark, windowless house and knock a dollar or two off the electric bill, but why? I would need to spend more on lighting and a psychiatrist.
I’m not suggesting that anyone live in a cave, and it is arguable that even the more pedestrian modern windows are justifiable on the basis of their benefits. I was making fun, in my subtle way, of “Fireworks Coody”. We have plentiful windows, and damn the expense. We also have several judiciously-deployed Sun Tunnels.
Mr. Coody, what exactly does bragging about your really cool energy producing home (to ad nauseum) have to do with fireworks? I just looked at my June energy usage and did not see a thing about fireworks. Not going to brag about my HERS rating either. I am just humbly satisfied we are doing a good job in our little home at managing energy usage. We may have saved enough to buy a few more fireworks to support local venders and really enjoy the fun of this seasonal tradition regardless the day we get to shoot them off. I like the Political BS Novelty fireworks item a lot and hope to find it locally. http://www.fireworks.com/products/item/political-bs-m-070/
Michael
Most fireworks are made in china in sweat shops. Fireworks exhaust our natural resources, fireworks pollute our planet, Every year several children and adults are killed while many more are mangled fingers blown off, blinded all kinds of horrible permeate injuries and for what? Money and few people’s enjoyment. Pets break out of their pens run off some are never recovered. Veterans who fought in wars are forced to relive the HELL they suffered over and over. Fire danger. Elderly people are often scared and confused. I could go on and on intelligent mature people should get the picture.
Thanks, Mr. Coger. We don’t often get to hear common sense like this. Absolutely fireworks maim, annoy, and frighten. I support a Fayetteville ban on fireworks (government shows are ok if you have to do something) but I wish the city (if they ever go back to a ban) could work something out with the county on regulation, because what happens is people cross over into the county so there winds up being more bother and danger for friends and animals out there.
Mr. Dooley you are a real piece of work I love you.
The fireworks ban Mayor Coody sponsored while in office was a very good ordinance on many fronts. Every year several children and adults are killed while many more are mangled fingers blown off, blinded all kinds of horrible permeate injuries and for what? Money and few people’s enjoyment. Pets break out of their pens run off some are never recovered. Veterans who fought in wars are forced to relive the HELL they suffered over and over. Fire danger. I could go on and on intelligent people should get the picture. This 4th was a slice of heaven without the fireworks. Some college students across the street from us did fire a bunch of fireworks as they were jumping in their autos to make a hasty escape I backed out in front of them we had a conversation they promised no more fireworks and they kept their word. So this incident was not reported to or logged by Fayetteville PD I am sure there was MANY more incidents like this one minis someone talking to the offenders.
o Mr. Dooley says:
(How much in sales taxes and permit fees were collected from fireworks sales during Mr. Coody’s eight years in office? None. Fireworks sales were illegal in the city during that time, and the sales taxes went to the state and county. It is good to see that Mr. Coody has changed his position and has a new found concern for the vendors in 2012, totally unrelated to his present campaign or the chance for an opportunistic slap at the current mayor and council)
With the knowledge of all the negative effects of selling fireworks and only one positive effect generate votes in an election year it was Mayor Jordan who changed the ordinance. Mr. Coody in my opinion is trying to make Lemonade out of lemons. I don’t read any where Mr. Coody saying he has changed his position Mr. Dooley it is easy to hide behind a fake name make false accusations and lie shame on you.
Mr. Coger, you make some interesting points. For those interested in watching fireworks this city and others in NW Arkansas have professional firework shows. Wish that would be enough for everyone.
I don’t know if Mayor Jordan changed the ordinance to pander for votes or not, but I think it was much better when fireworks were illegal. I wish they were illegal in the county as well.
For the record, fireworks were illegal to purchase or use in the city limits before I took office. I have no idea how long that ordinance had been in place.
Thanks SueEllen & Timeismoney for your comments. I agree fireworks displays aren’t going away in the near future. I support a County as well as city’s ban on fireworks. Let’s have a couple of professional staged displays in high elevations so everyone who chooses to watch can enjoy this makes sense to me this being said I think the U of A should stop the extremely LOUD air borne explosive fireworks @ football, baseball games and any time they feel like it. These can be heard for a 20 mile radius are the worst for scaring pets, Vets, people and so on. Think of the amount of money these high dollar fireworks and the personal to manage them cost. That money could go a long way towards class rooms, instructors or better yet help take care of our homeless and disadvantaged living in Fayetteville. Oh wait that is athletic money never mind. The U of A is in Essenes is the State of Arkansas so they can do as they please abuse of power is not the correct thing to do. This is my opinion I can be wrong
Dan what I meant to say was in your terms as Mayor you did not see the need to change the fireworks ban ordinance which served Fayetteville so well for so many years. I stand corrected.