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Council adopts uniform midnight fireworks hours; some residents had urged a 2 a.m. exception for July 4
Summary
Choteau’s city council voted to adopt Ordinance 3-20, setting fireworks hours at 11 a.m. to midnight across the listed days; residents and some council members had urged preserving a 2 a.m. allowance on July 4.
The Choteau City Council voted on Nov. 19 to adopt Ordinance 3-20, narrowing permitted fireworks hours to 11 a.m. until 12 a.m. on the ordinance’s listed days. The council approved the change by voice vote after public comment and council debate.
At the public hearing, resident Matthew McCartney asked the council to preserve a 2 a.m. end time specifically for July 4, saying that the holiday is traditionally treated differently. “I’m requesting that you leave at least the July 4 to 2AM as that is the day set aside for the holiday,” McCartney told the council. Several members of the public echoed his request; others and some council members said a midnight cutoff would reduce late-night disturbance.
Council discussion focused on balancing holiday celebration with residents’ quality of life. One council member said midnight across the four days could avoid confusion in printed notices that list dates and times, noting that a 2 a.m. end time on July 4 can be misread as applying to July 5. After debate, the council voted to adopt the ordinance with the hours set from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and the mayor said the change will be posted publicly.
The ordinance was approved as presented; the council did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript. The council noted enforcement will depend on existing code and contracts with law enforcement or code enforcement staff.
