Jun 30, 2022

Barton Co. Commission compromises on extra day to shoot fireworks

Posted Jun 30, 2022 2:48 PM

By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post

Patriotism, police complaints, fire calls, and the economy. Those were the factors debated in Thursday's Barton County Commission special session pertaining to the dishcharge of fireworks in unincorporated parts of the county. After hearing from various first responders, the commission voted 4-0 to allow the discharge of fireworks in rural Barton County on July 3 and 4 this year.

Commission Jennifer Schartz emphasized the adopted resolution only applies to unincorporated portions of the county, and city ordinances still apply to most county residents.

"I don't think everybody understands the difference between city government and county government," Schartz said. "(I want people to understand) if we allow it for a longer period in the county, Great Bend is not involved in that."

Following Wednesday's regular meeting, the commission called a special session to discuss and vote to change the county resolution that allows the discharge of fireworks only on July 4. The proposed change would have allowed the discharge of fireworks from June 27 through July 4 to coincide with the sale of fireworks in the county. Thursday's compromise to July 3 and 4 will only apply to the 2022 holiday. Fireworks may be discharged from 8 a.m. to midnight on both of those days in unincorporated portions of the county.

"You know we've always supported the fire department, and always tried to work with you guys and gotten your blessing on anything we've done when it comes to people's safety," said Commission Chairman Shawn Hutchinson. "I hope if we're able to find a two-day compromise here, that the fire chiefs will get behind us, and the public will get behind us and understand what we're doing and why we're doing it. We've whittled it back from seven days to two days."

Sheriff Brian Bellendir opened the meeting by explaining to the commission how difficult the current resolution is to enforce.

"You've got me in an impossible situation," he said. "Under your current resolution, it is unlawful to discharge fireworks other than on July 4th. I know of two unincorporated towns who are advertising fireworks displays on Sunday, the third.

"The other issue we run into is, you start selling fireworks on (June 27), and people are going to shoot them and we get complaints. In the history of the sheriff's office, I don't know that we've ever written a summons for unlawful discharge. The people are going to discharge them no matter what."

The commission heard from Fire Chiefs Luke McCormick (Great Bend), Spencer Proffitt (Ellinwood), Charles Keller (Albert), and Doug Hubbard (Claflin). The chiefs agreed that a 7-day period to legally discharge fireworks would tax their departments, especially those with volunteer firefighters. Barton County Communications Director Dena Popp said she would have to pay dispatchers overtime to work extra shifts if fireworks were allowed to be discharged for a week.

"I think this whole topic is probably really due for a good work study," McCormick said, "not to have a special meeting two days before this comes in with no advanced notice - to really prepare so we've got good facts and good stats of the impacts it has on the fire department, the impacts it has on the sheriff's department, and the impact it has on the public.

"As for this year, and I can speak for the Great Bend Fire Department, leaving it alone is the best for us because, when you add multiple days of shooting, it does create an additional staff load. Staffing is already tricky enough to do when you start impacting the volunteers. To do it from (June) 27th on, harvest is not done, we're in the rural areas of Kansas. That causes issues."

Moving forward, the commission has agreed to speak further with first responders and fireworks retailers to determine the best course of action for all involved.