Residents urge limits on fireworks; council hears concerns but takes no immediate ordinance action

Dozens of residents and several local veterinarians urged the Town of James Island council to restrict fireworks use and/or sales, citing animal welfare, veteran PTSD and environmental concerns. The council heard public comment and discussed outreach and enforcement options but took no ordinance action at the meeting.

Speakers during the public-comment period included Lindy Mills (565 Schooner Road) and Wendy Mills, who requested limits on hours when fireworks can be set off and suggested point-of-sale notices for buyers. Lindy Mills told council, “If we are going to allow fireworks to be sold in our community… the firework provider should be required to host when those fireworks can be used and what hours.”

Veterinarian Jean McKee Thompson described increased demand for pet sedation around fireworks season and said clinics are treating animals for weeks around fireworks events. “My own dog has had to be tranquilized… for the last 3 weeks every day, every night,” Thompson said, and urged reasonable time limits rather than a total ban.

Edward Green, a Vietnam veteran, said fireworks severely affect him and described leaving town during major holidays to avoid them. “The fireworks, it terribly bothered me,” Green told council.

Council members acknowledged the complaints and described jurisdictional and enforcement limits. The town does not operate its own police force; the county sheriff enforces livability and noise ordinances and has limited ability to pursue fireworks discharge unless county law specifies. Council members recalled an earlier compromise that had set allowable hours on certain holidays and said that changing enforcement or county ordinance language would likely require county action.

Council discussion emphasized outreach and point-of-sale measures. Councilman Troy Mullenax suggested distributing short printed notices at fireworks vendors and working with animal and veteran groups to raise awareness of time restrictions and impacts. Mayor Bridal Lyon and other council members said they wanted more information from the sheriff’s office and to explore voluntary point-of-sale notifications as an immediate step rather than new, potentially unenforceable local restrictions.

No new ordinance was introduced. Council directed staff to gather additional information from the Charleston County sheriff’s office about enforcement options, and councilmembers asked staff to research outreach/education measures (including printed notices at points of sale) and report back to the council.