Council tables fireworks ordinance; asks staff for nuisance and day-of-week options

The Presque Isle City Council heard extended public testimony and staff recommendations on proposed revisions to Chapter 62 (the consumer fireworks ordinance) at its Nov. 5 meeting and ultimately voted to table the matter so staff could return with nuisance-based enforcement options and limits by day of week.

Tim, the staff presenter, said the revised draft would require permits throughout the city and incorporate state language on permitted hours, generally allowing consumer fireworks between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. except for specified holidays (for example, July 4 and New Year’s Eve permitting into the early morning hours). Residents told council they experienced repeated late-night fireworks that disturbed sleep and endangered pets and elderly neighbors; one resident, Patrick McCross, said calls to the fire department and police had not solved the issue.

The fire chief advised that a permit system that required callers to notify the department would allow staff to refuse fireworks during high fire-danger days and noted existing civil fines ($100–$500) for unpermitted activity. Councilors and members of the public discussed whether a nuisance clause, per-user year limits or day-of-week constraints could address chronic bad actors without unduly restricting responsible users. A motion to table the ordinance and direct economic-development staff to draft nuisance/day-of-week alternatives passed unanimously (6–0) at the meeting.

The transcript records no ordinance adoption on Nov. 5; instead, the council deferred to staff to bring revised language back for further public hearing and deliberation.