Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Nuisance Fireworks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council members urge state action as residents cite late-night fireworks and injuries
Summary
Residents described extended late-night fireworks and injuries; the deputy mayor said Westland’s ordinance mirrors state law and the city cannot further restrict days or hours, and council members urged residents to contact state legislators.
Residents and council members raised concerns Monday about prolonged fireworks displays in Westland, describing late-night disturbances, safety incidents and at least one reported injury.
Joe Bradke, a resident, said fireworks were being set off “until 03:30 in the morning” and described repeated nights of disruption and a recent incident near Warren and Merriman he tied to fireworks. “I don't know if how you can go about trying to talk to each other or make other ordinances or laws... I think it's kind of embarrassing,” Bradke said, asking whether the allowable window for fireworks could be shortened.
Deputy Mayor Godbelger told the council the city's ordinance mirrors allowable days under state law and that the city lacks authority to impose narrower restrictions on days or hours than the state allows. “The city's ordinance mirrors this the allowable days that the state has. We do not have the ability to further restrict beyond what the state law calls for in regards to days or hours on the fireworks displays,” he said, and added that he has discussed the issue with state legislators previously.
Council members said the scale and power of some consumer fireworks raise safety concerns that exceed the capacity of local enforcement. Councilman Hart described a concussion injury to young people from a mortar device and said the devices available to the public now are much more powerful than in prior years. “...you can go ahead and set off, quite frankly, an explosive device that, could kill someone and without any license, without any training,” Hart said. He and other council members urged residents to contact state representatives and senators and said the council would join in requesting state-level action.
Officials said enforcement capacity is limited and that even substantially increased patrols would reach only a fraction of violations on peak nights. The council did not propose a local ordinance change at the meeting; instead members called for coordinated advocacy at the state level and encouraged residents to report violations to the police.
