Gahanna leaves explosive fireworks to the pros; backyard booms banned

Gahanna residents are welcome to enjoy the city’s fireworks, sponsored by KEMBA Financial Credit Union, on July 1, but any plans for personal fireworks shows should be fizzled out.

Gahanna City Council voted 6-0 on June 21 to opt out of the new state law regarding fireworks, instead keeping in effect the already existing ban on the discharging, igniting and exploding of fireworks within city limits, said Dan Pearlman, the city’s new public-information officer.

Detonating fireworks within the city of Gahanna would have been permitted once the state's new permissive law takes effect July 1.

Those voting in favor of the ban were council members Stephen Renner, Michael Schnetzer, Kaylee Padova, Trenton Weaver, Nancy McGregor and Merisa Bowers. Council member Karen Angelou was absent.

Renner, council president, said the law approved by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine provides clear language for municipalities to prioritize public safety with respect to fireworks.

Gahanna not alone: How other central Ohio cities are handling fireworks

"Gahanna public safety and police department have a long history and careful practice within our laws to enforce when there are public-safety and nuisance issues regarding fireworks," he said. "We have to remember that we all live within communities of 20 or 50 feet from one another and therefore must be respectful of our neighbors, their property, their families and their pets."

When responding to fireworks-related calls, the Gahanna Division of Police intends to focus on educating the public about the city’s laws and deferring to a warning, as opposed to immediately taking enforcement action, when appropriate, Pearlman said.

He said a first offense, however, would be a fourth-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a $250 fine and/or up to 30 days in jail. Any subsequent offense would be a first-degree misdemeanor, which carries a possible penalty of a $1,000 fine and/or up to 180 days in jail.

A June 10 correspondence from Mayor Laurie Jadwin to council said that based on the recommendation of public safety experts, the administration believes the health and safety of the citizens of Gahanna would be best protected and served by opting out of the new Ohio law and continuing the city’s ban on discharging, igniting or exploding fireworks in the city, except by licensed and authorized exhibitors.

In October 2021, the Ohio General Assembly approved Substitute House Bill 172, which DeWine signed into law in February.

The new law allows adults to use consumer-grade fireworks on more than 20 days, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and July 3, 4 and 5, as well as the three-day weekends before and after July 4. Use is prohibited while under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substances.

mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekMarla

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Gahanna officially bans explosive fireworks