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Laramie County adds permit limits for consumer fireworks, approves two Phantom locations and denies Artillery World
Summary
At a Laramie County Board of Commissioners meeting the board attached new restrictions to consumer fireworks retail permits, approved two Phantom Fireworks permits with the new conditions and denied an annual permit for Artillery World after testimony and a recording of an alleged threatening phone call was played.
At a meeting of the Laramie County Board of Commissioners, the board voted to attach new restrictions to consumer fireworks retail sales permits and approved annual permits for Phantom Fireworks LLC (227 I-25 Service Road East) and Phantom Fireworks Showrooms LLC (239 I-25 Service Road East) while denying an annual permit for Artillery World (237 I-25 Service Road, Building A).
The board said the added conditions would apply to all fireworks sales permits considered that day and to future permits. The amended language conditions permits on compliance with the Laramie County Consumer Fireworks Retail Sales Regulations and with applicable state and federal law; it also included operational restrictions such as a prohibition on agents or employees entering road rights-of-way with bullhorns or waving customers into rights-of-way, limits on amplified sound to the permit property with a ceiling of 80 decibels at the property border, and a prohibition on harassment of other businesses, their employees or customers.
Commissioners and county staff said the restrictions reflect conditions previously imposed in a court preliminary injunction and are intended to reduce disruptions near service-road retail sites. Matt Butler, Laramie County fire warden, told the board inspections had been completed and required signatures obtained for the Phantom locations. Justin Arnold of Laramie County Planning and Development read a memo from Chief Building Official Dan Peters noting code and life-safety concerns about three adjacent units that have had overhead freight doors open and connected walkways; Arnold said those discussions were ongoing and that overhead doors approved for moving product should not be used as pedestrian walkways during business hours.
Bruce Assy, attorney for the applicant Artillery World, told the board his client had complied with the injunction conditions during the prior year and asked the board to approve the permit. In response, Commissioner Thompson recounted the board’s prior denial and litigation and said the board had received evidence of threatening conduct toward county officials. Thompson said, "I cannot in good conscience, ever vote for this person to be doing business in Laramie County," and requested the board be allowed to hear an audio recording of a telephone call that county staff traced to an Elliott family number. The recording was played for the board during the hearing.
After debate, the board voted as follows: for the Phantom Fireworks LLC permit (227 I-25 Service Road East), the board approved the permit as amended; for Phantom Fireworks Showrooms LLC (239 I-25 Service Road East), the board approved the permit with the same added language; for Artillery World (237 I-25 Service Road, Building A), the board voted to deny the permit.
The board’s actions attach the amended restrictions to approved permits going forward and leave unresolved the underlying civil litigation that produced the earlier preliminary injunction. No additional conditions or deadlines were specified in the motions beyond the requirement that permittees comply with the county regulations and applicable law.
The board adjourned after completing the fireworks items.
