Supervisors table action on fireworks ordinance

By Brooks Taylor, Mt. Pleasant News

After discussing possible action on a county fireworks ordinance Tuesday, the Henry County Board of Supervisors wanted to sleep on the matter for a couple of nights before taking up the matter again at Thursday?s meeting.

Supervisors discussed action on a fireworks ordinance with Henry County Attorney Darin Stater and county Director of Planning and Zoning Joe Buffington.

Although the supervisors won?t make the decision until Thursday, Supervisor Greg Moeller said his mind is already made up. ?Personally, I am in favor of following state code.?

The Iowa Legislature passed legislation during the 2017 session that permits the sale and discharge of certain fireworks in the state.

Since the legislation was approved late in the session, many cities and counties are taking a ?wait and see? attitude by opting to follow, rather than deviate from state code. County Auditor Shelly Barber said the county auditors she has talked to have said their counties have opted for state code. The City of Mt. Pleasant has passed two readings on an ordinance which follows the state law.

Stater said the law gives the county ?broad powers? on what it can do, including banning fireworks on county-owned property. The City of Mt. Pleasant?s ordinance bans the discharge of fireworks on city-owned property.

?There?s no reason to make it (ordinance) too strict because they will do it anyway,? Barber said. ?You also have to think of law enforcement, too, because they have to enforce it.?

?If you don?t do anything, the county will be following state law,? Stater said. ?You could see how it goes this year. I think the fewer ordinances you have the better.?

Supervisors also approved an amendment to the 2017 fiscal-year budget. Barber said that an amendment close to the end of the fiscal year is routine practice ?because you receive some money (during the fiscal year) that you were not expecting and spend some you weren?t anticipating.?

The amendment included $8,731 more in revenue than expenses. Some $502,554 in revenue was added to the budget and $493,823 in expenses. The expenditures bring the budget?s total to $17,338,792. The budget?s revenue is listed at $14,419,428. Ending-fund balance as of June 30 is projected at $3,922,745.

Spring is turning to summer and that means construction projects. County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss said in his weekly report that ?it was a busy week last week and will be busy this week. We are running pretty fast right now.?

Secondary-roads workers finished a shoulder-pulling project on 335th Street but will continue working on ditching and finishing rock placement at the site this week. Later in the week, workers will start construction on 310th Street and Marsh Avenue, replacing two culverts and working on grading a T-intersection.

Other tasks by the roads crew last week included hauling rock; spraying weeds; mowing shoulders; and installing an expansion device on the Boyleston Bridge.

Supervisors meet again in regular session Thursday, June 1, at 9 a.m., in the courthouse.