Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Vol. 43, No. 26
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YOUR LOCAL PAPER
Fireworks Causing Frustration
Viking’s fireworks bylaw to control ‘indiscriminate use’ Patricia Harcourt Editor
Viking Council passed a revised Fireworks Bylaw at its virtual meeting June 22 that allows residents to buy and use fireworks under controlled conditions. The town has experienced the use of fireworks this year in what appears to be an indiscriminate fashion at different locations and times. The RCMP have reported complaints received of fireworks waking people up or startling them. The previous fireworks bylaw proposal clamped down on their sale and use except for larger events. The “compromise” bylaw passed by council “puts the onus on the sellers responsible for the proper distribution of the products,” said CAO Don McLeod. Businesses selling fireworks need to
get the purchaser’s name, address and phone number, plus have a permit allowing them to sell the product. McLeod said there are three businesses in town that sell fireworks as part of their revenues, and they were upset at the previous bylaw proposal limiting their sale. With the revised bylaw, “the seller is responsible,” he said. “They must have the right paperwork filled out. They need to have that license in order to sell them.” Mayor Jason Ritchie wanted to know what could be done if people set off fireworks “after hours.” McLeod replied that, under the bylaw, “the ticket is issued to the owner of the house.” Ritchie said this “makes the landlord responsible for their tenants.” But Councillor Clint Nearing didn’t agree with the compromise bylaw. “There’s no reason for somebody
doing it (setting off fireworks) in town,” he said, making a distinction between that and larger fireworks displays by the community. Nearing also said that individuals with fireworks interfere with residents’ who have to sleep “at all times of the day” due to their work hours. Councillor Laurel Weisgerber wanted to know if he objected to a family holding a celebration with fireworks if it is done “well within the (noise) bylaws.” Nearing said he did. McLeod agreed that fireworks set off “in compliance with the noise bylaw we have in town,” would be allowed. He differentiated between display and consumer permits. Display permits would be issued by the town for a commercial fireworks show for a public audience. The consumer permit is for recreational use by the general public, he said. It is required “for all consumer
fireworks discharged in the Town of Viking other than designated dates listed within this bylaw.” The issue of fireworks and noise came up over the past few months due to the apparently random acts of setting them off, often late at night. “This is not a new problem and many municipalities are dealing with,” said McLeod. “We did not want to ban the sale of fireworks outright, but town residents were tired of the indiscriminate use by a few persons…Part of the issue is that fireworks can now be ordered and delivered to your door. “Also, people can purchase fireworks almost anywhere and bring them to town. By eliminating the sale of fireworks in town we would not really be solving the problem. “Also, this is a revenue source for the few businesses that do sell fireworks,” he said, noting the industry is a $400 See FIREWORKS P9