Macedonia Council seeks public input on allowing the shooting of fireworks
MACEDONIA – To allow consumer-grade 1.4G fireworks to be discharged – as the state of Ohio now permits – or to opt out of following the new state law is one question City Council is mulling this summer.
At Council’s July 28 meeting, reps Jan Tulley and Jessica Brandt called upon residents to provide input on which way they would like to see the city go.
“For or against, we would like to hear from residents,” said Brandt. “We haven’t had many opinions yet, but now that July 4 – [the first holiday the new law was in effect] – has passed, people might have some opinions about the issue.
“We didn’t have to act prior to the law going into effect, and we can still do so. But the sooner we get input, the better.”
Police Chief Jon Golden and Fire Chief Brian Ripley said “no” when asked by Councilman Vini Ventura whether there were any complaints about shooting fireworks or any injuries reported over the July 4 weekend.
Brandt said residents can contact a Council rep by phone, email or social media, or can email Council clerk Jonathan Hoover at jhoover@macedonia.oh.us to provide input.
The Ohio law, which went into effect July 1, allows private individuals to use an expanded range of fireworks on private property on designated days.
It was signed in November 2021 by Gov. Mike DeWine following a year-long push by the industry to legalize the use of fireworks.
Residents only can legally discharge fireworks on the following dates: July 3-5; Friday, Saturday and Sunday before and after July 4; Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and Juneteeth.
Mayor Nick Molnar stressed the law does not apply to fireworks displays set off by professional companies.
As of the July 4 weekend, some local communities that opted out of following the state law and not allowing discharge of consumer-grade fireworks were Twinsburg, Aurora, Akron, Richfield Village, Cuyahoga Falls, Silver Lake and Barberton.
In addition to Macedonia, still allowing discharges were Northfield Village and Center Township, Sagamore Hills, Twinsburg Township, Bath Township, Boston Heights and Township, Hudson, Reminderville and Richfield Township.
Twinsburg Council on June 14 opted out of the provisions established in House Bill 172, and continued operating under its fireworks ordinance.
“Ordinance 65-2022 continues to prohibit the discharge of fireworks in the city to preserve the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents.” said a notice on Twinsburg’s website. “We encourage everyone to leave fireworks to the professionals.”
Aurora Council opted out of following the state law and kept its ordinance banning the use fireworks intact with some minor alterations.
“After thoughtful consideration, we’ve drafted this legislation, which would generally opt out of HB 172 and keep our fireworks ordinances status quo, meaning nothing much would change,” said Aurora law director Dean DePiero.
Aurora Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin said she urged Council to opt out because of the danger.
“Fireworks are too potentially dangerous for untrained people to freely use them,\" she said. \"They can also pose hazards to neighboring homes and property.
“In addition, the discharge of fireworks can be disturbing to many pets and people, including veterans and others. We felt that the times, locations and permitted users of fireworks should therefore be limited accordingly.”
PROJECTS PROGRESS
Building commissioner Bob Rodic updated Council on a few ongoing commercial projects in the city.
He said the IHOP restaurant conversion on Route 82 and the Optima Dermatology building at the Crossings at Golden Link are experiencing delays because of supply chain issues. “Metal and steel products are hard to come by right now,” he noted.
He added that was the case with Wayback Burgers in the First Watch building at Routes 82 and 8, but it is now open, as is Burlington at Gateway Plaza after its downsizing. Interior demolition of the leftover space should begin in a few weeks.
“Target renovations are moving along,” Rodic said. “They are progressing in a systematic fashion – area by area – and are nearly halfway through the 22-week process.”
Grading and utilities installation has been completed at the new Panda Express – where the former Golden Corral parking lot was – and steel framing is up at Dominion Energy Ohio’s new truck garage on Shepard Road.
Rodic said the latter project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Macedonia Council wants residents' input on allowing fireworks
