Neosho council approves zoning change and ordinance to allow year-round fireworks sales; debate to revisit discharge times

The Neosho City Council on Aug. 6 approved a zoning amendment and an accompanying ordinance to allow year‑round retail fireworks sales in certain commercial zones and to codify exceptions for nonprofit seasonal sellers.

City planner/staff Richard (first referenced at SEG 298) told the council that the zoning amendment (Bill 2024‑60) adds year‑round fireworks sales as a permitted use in commercial zones, with planning and zoning recommending that full‑time sales be concentrated in heavier commercial C‑3 zones while leaving some managers open to broader seasonal allowances. The council approved the zoning change 6‑1.

The council then passed Bill 2024‑61, an amendment to the city’s offenses and miscellaneous provisions incorporating year‑round sales consistent with Missouri Revised Statutes section 320.111 and keeping the existing discharge dates and times. Richard noted the ordinance includes an exception allowing the local school to use fireworks at graduation without filing for a seasonal exception each year; the ordinance passed 7‑0.

Residents at the meeting pressed the council over when fireworks may be discharged. Kathy Pellegrin (first referenced at SEG 163) told the council she has seen fireworks discharged as late as 2:30 a.m. and said the noise has been a hardship for people with PTSD and for animals. Pellegrin asked the council to limit sales or firing windows inside city limits.

Council members described enforcement challenges for after‑hours discharges: officers cannot police every neighborhood and must rely on complaints tied to identifiable property or witnesses. One councilmember asked the city manager and staff to research other municipalities’ approaches to discharge windows and enforcement and to return to council with a focused discussion on discharge times at the Aug. 20 meeting. Richard said the ordinance’s sale provisions do not alter discharge rules; year‑round sales permit buying but do not authorize additional discharge dates beyond those set in the fireworks ordinance.

A business representative said developers seeking to open a permanent store (described as a mixed retail site including fireworks, a smoke shop and alcohol sales) intended to locate in a heavier commercial corridor and rely on regular customers, including interstate truck drivers. The representative said the business model relied on regulated safety features and state oversight of permanent stores.

What’s next: Council directed staff to return Aug. 20 with options on restricting discharge times and with comparisons from other cities; sales provisions in the zoning and ordinance changes take effect per the city’s legislative schedule.

Quotes

“Losing this recreational green space is a tremendous loss…” — Benjamin Davies (public comment, unrelated to fireworks but raised at the meeting).

“I would like to see perhaps the fireworks sales be limited so that there is not access … within the city limits, perhaps limit the time period in which they can be sold, and perhaps limit the time period within which they can be fired.” — Kathy Pellegrin, public commenter.

“We’re bringing to you this fireworks ordinance… It makes an exception for nonprofits operating off their own property to sell fireworks to raise funds.” — Richard, city staff.

Ending

The council approved the zoning amendment and the ordinance to permit year‑round fireworks sales and asked staff to return Aug. 20 with options on tightening discharge times and enforcement measures before changing the dates/times when fireworks may be discharged.