Finney County OKs allowing fireworks sales, bans discharge outside city limits pending June review

At a Finney County Board of Commissioners meeting (date publicly posted for May 19, 2025), the board approved a staff recommendation to continue allowing the sale of consumer fireworks under the county's existing resolution while prohibiting the discharge of fireworks outside municipal limits, with a final review scheduled for the June commission meeting.

The recommendation, presented by Garden City Fire Chief John Ersick, said state law recently expanded the state's authorized fireworks sales season but that local governments retain authority to set local sale and discharge dates. "The state has expanded the authorized fireworks season now beginning from June 20 to July 7," Ersick said. "Staff recommends the 2025 fireworks season is to continue to allow the sales of fireworks in the county, but prohibit the discharge of fireworks outside their respective city limits."

The action approved by the board aligns with Finney County Resolution 10-24, which authorizes sales and sets the time window the county will enforce: sales authorized June 27 through July 5, with discharge authorized July 1 through July 5 between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., subject to the county's review of drought conditions before lifting any countywide discharge ban. Ersick told commissioners that county staff and fire officials will readdress the board two weeks before the fireworks season to recommend whether to lift or maintain the discharge prohibition based on moisture and drought-index data and consultation with the Holcomb fire chief and Finney County emergency manager Paul Riesley.

Commissioners raised enforcement and community-concern issues during the discussion. One commissioner said having a narrower sales window that matches the discharge window could make enforcement simpler and reduce illegal off-limits discharges, noting pet owners and first responders have expressed concern about larger discharge windows. Ersick said enforcement is complaint-driven and patrols will be available during the authorized sale dates: dispatch calls or citizen complaints may trigger attempts to locate and warn offenders. "Normally, first one's a warning," Ersick said, but he added that depending on the circumstances, officers could issue a ticket and confiscate fireworks.

The board approved Alternative 1 by voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the minutes. The resolution amendment and enforcement practices will be revisited in June, at which point the board said staff would present a final recommendation informed by updated drought and moisture data and coordination with municipal fire officials.

The county also discussed the implications of the recent state law change: while the state now allows a longer sales season and permits permanent retail outlets that may sell year-round under a State Fire Marshal permit, local governments retain authority to set discharge dates and to regulate seasonal stands and fundraising sales.

The decision affects residents across unincorporated Finney County, and county officials said they will continue outreach and social-media fire-safety education and coordinate with Garden City and Holcomb fire departments to ensure consistent public messaging.

Finney County action summary: the board authorized fireworks sales consistent with Resolution 10-24 (sales June 27'July 5, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; discharge July 1'July 5, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.), prohibited discharge outside city limits pending the June re-evaluation, and directed staff to return with a final recommendation based on drought-index readings and consultation with local fire chiefs and the county emergency manager.