Wasilla council gives green light to holiday fireworks

WASILLA — The New Year promises to begin with a bang — and a few booms, snaps, oohs and ahs. City residents can ring in 2008 with fireworks following an approval from council this week to allow residents to fire off their pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve.

Council voted 5-1 in favor of an ordinance that legalizes fireworks in the Wasilla city limits for New Year celebrations. Sponsored by Deputy Mayor Kristopher Larson, the ordinance was created in response to residents expressing an interest to fire off fireworks in the city. Not only did public interest spark work on the ordinance, Larson said enforcement — or lack thereof — of the city’s ban on fireworks seemed obsolete.

Councilman Doug Holler voted against the ordinance, which allows the use of Class C common fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Anne Kilkenny, a Wasilla resident, shares an opinion similar to Larson’s.

“It makes no sense to have laws on the books that aren’t enforced or that we don’t intend to enforce,” Kilkenny said.

Those who want to ring in 2008 with their rockets’ red glare can do so, but only on New Year’s Eve and only from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

While council received some public support for the fireworks ordinance, other residents and council members were hesitant to light the fuse.

Diana Straub voiced concerns about a lack of information included in the ordinance and the negative impact it could have on residents. For example, insurance rates for homeowners might be increased because of increased risk of fire.

“I would hope you could confirm the cost to homeowners [before approving] this eight hours of pleasure,” Straub said.

Council members Steve Menard and Dianne Woodruff expressed several concerns with the original ordinance, which called for a time period an hour longer, from 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Overall, Menard said he’s concerned about the legal issues the use of fireworks could raise.

“If we take this [fireworks ban] off the books and something does happen, an injured party can sue the city,” Menard said.

Along with legal issues, both Menard and Woodruff suggested addressing how the city would deal with the trash that will be created from fireworks shooting all over the city.

Holler said it’s also important to consider what time parents return home from work and that some kids could begin lighting off fireworks at 5:30 p.m. before their parents returned home.

“If you’re going to give kids fireworks they need adult supervision,” he said.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.