PORT ANGELES – Central and eastern Clallam County would have new, restrictive fireworks rules under a proposal county commissioners seemed to support.
During a work session yesterday, commissioners generally agreed all areas east of the Elwha River would have fireworks limited to the 4th of July between 9 am and midnight. Areas west of the river would continue to follow rules set by the state of Washington that allow wider discharge times.
West-end county commissioner Bill Peach says he is against clamping down on fireworks in his part of the county.
I’ve heard a lot of feedback from my constituents. One community that’s quite concerned about what will take place here was the Native American community, plus there is a nonprofit that makes money selling their fireworks for kids. I’ve stated to a tribal chair, that I will consult with that person prior to embracing this and a vote. There’s genuine concern about the financial impact.
Central-county commissioner Randy Johnson says he has heard plenty from people during a nearly the two-year-long debate on fireworks regulations. He says he thinks the proposal is a good compromise.
Many people, certainly again those people with pets and all kinds of other things, they have two issues. One that they’re not really sure if you could zone and area, they didn’t really figure out how that would work very well. I’m still the point where I believe that one day total at least on what I call the middle-eastern section of the county would be appropriate for one day only.
Commissioners had originally talked about allowing individual neighborhoods carve out fireworks-restricted zones, similar to the county’s no-shooting zones. However, officials agreed that might be too difficult to enforce.
The county will next develop an official ordinance and set it out for public hearings. Any changes in the fireworks rules would not take effect for at least another year.