Cole County commissioners adopt fireworks ordinance, approve grants and equipment purchases

The Cole County Commission on Aug. 5 adopted a new Cole County Property Protection Ordinance banning the ignition of fireworks on paved county roads, tightening rules on debris burning and prohibiting fires or fireworks within 10 feet of drainage structures, and took a series of other routine administrative actions including approving grant applications and equipment purchases.

The ordinance replaces a prior county burning ordinance from June 14, 2004 and was adopted after commissioners said they had received increased complaints about fireworks being set off in roadways and concerns that large fireworks could damage paved surfaces. Commissioners voted in favor by voice; the record shows the motions passed by voice vote but individual roll-call tallies were not specified in the transcript.

Beyond the ordinance, the commission authorized staff to apply for an ASPCA grant to offset animal shelter costs stemming from recent cruelty cases, approved the signing of multiple contracts including a $25,000 engagement with Inghouse Interactive for a Telstraat Engage service, and signed a contract for a 2025-16 fire alarm system replacement previously awarded to Coursemire Fire Protection for $14,300. The board also approved a budget adjustment (number 5) totaling $106,964 to accept a DSSF grant for the sheriff’s department, approved accounts payable pending review, and approved an emergency purchase of a radio repeater system for the jail from A and W Communications for about $20,003.66 paid from the biometrics fund.

Why it matters: the new ordinance changes what is allowed on county paved roads and clarifies citation procedures, while the equipment and contract approvals affect county operations and the sheriff’s department budget. The DSSF grant and ASPCA application relate to public safety and animal-control costs, and the repeater purchase addresses an aging radio system used for jail and courthouse communications.

Commissioners introduced Jay Moore as the new Cole County auditor at the start of the meeting; Moore briefly thanked the commission. The commission also noted that the Board of Equalization (BOE) would meet later that day to consider a residential equalization order issued by the Missouri State Tax Commission.

Votes at a glance: - Authorize application for ASPCA grant (pass). Motion to authorize application described a $7,000 grant opportunity with an initial $4,000 request for costs from a recent cruelty case; vote: voice vote, outcome: approved; tally not specified. - Sign contract: Telstraat Engage with Inghouse Interactive, $25,000 over three years (pass). Vote: voice vote, outcome: approved; payment source: contingency fund. - Sign contract: Project 2025-16 fire alarm system replacement awarded to Coursemire Fire Protection, $14,300 (pass). Vote: voice vote, outcome: approved. - Approve accounts payable pending review (pass). Vote: voice vote, outcome: approved. - Second and final reading of budget adjustment No. 5: accept DSSF grant for sheriff’s department, $106,964 (pass). Vote: voice vote, outcome: approved. - Adopt Cole County Property Protection Ordinance (pass). Motion included banning fireworks on paved county roads, banning burning of debris/leaves/yard waste on county roads, and prohibiting fires/fireworks within 10 feet of drainage structures. Vote: voice vote, outcome: approved. The commission also voted to rescind the prior June 14, 2004 ordinance on burning on county roads (pass). - Emergency purchase: radio repeater system for the jail from A and W Communications, approximately $20,003.66, funded from the biometrics fund (pass). Motion described the repeater as the radio system jail staff use for moving prisoners and courthouse operations; vote: voice vote, outcome: approved.

Meeting context and details: commissioners said the repeater system in the jail is near end-of-life and that parts are no longer available, prompting the emergency purchase using state contract pricing. County staff reported that an animal-cruelty situation resulted in the shelter taking multiple dogs and that an ASPCA grant could offset shelter costs. Discussion of the fireworks ordinance included complaints about fireworks being set off in roadways and potential damage to asphalt; the draft ordinance was described as broader and more clearly formatted than the 2004 version and would include proper citation steps.

The transcript records motions and voice approvals but does not provide named roll-call vote tallies. Several staff and commissioners spoke during the meeting; individual commissioners were not consistently identified by name in the public transcript beyond the introduction of Jay Moore as auditor.