Local News
Parsons city commissioners on Monday declined to extend the days for fireworks sales in the city.
A representative from Jake’s Fireworks made the request of the city commission to extend the sales date three days, from June 30 to July 4 to June 27 to July 4. Now fireworks can only be discharged from June 30 to July 4 and commissioners hesitated to add three days to discharging fireworks.
State law now allows fireworks sales for seasonal retailers from June 20 to July 7 in Kansas. Fireworks can be sold year-round in Kansas, but the business must be registered with the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office and have safety features in the building, such as a sprinkler system.
In an earlier discussion, some commissioners expressed concerns about the impact on pets and others who do not like the weeklong period for discharging fireworks let alone extending that time.
Commissioners on Monday were to consider an ordinance that would extend sales. Commissioners over-
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whelmingly heard negative comments from constituents on the issue.
Commissioner Kevin Cruse said no one he spoke to wanted the change. A big concern was animals that don’t like fireworks anyway having to deal with them possibly for another three days. He said his vote on the ordinance would be no.
Commissioner Leland Crooks said he heard nothing but no’s from his constituents, and Commissioner Eric Strait agreed. Commissioner Tom Shaw said he heard overwhelmingly that constituents were against the change; he also heard from a handful who wanted the change.
To bring the matter to a close, a commissioner made a motion to approve the ordinance. No one seconded the motion so it died.
In other matters, the commission: — Agreed to pay the $25,000 annual fee to Retail Strategies for developing retail prospects for the city. Commissioners said a more fulsome discussion will take place next year before paying the fee again. Commissioners agree that the relationship has opened some doors for the city but they still want to see more progress.
— Heard an update on the Juneteenth celebration in Parsons from Sontana Johnson. Essays and a pageant will be part of this year’s events.
— Agreed to some road closures around Forest Park on June 28 for the Wind Wizards car show. Wind Wizards are a motorcycle group associated with the Mirza Shrine in Pittsburg. The streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day and will include all of Broadway and part of Heacock. The show will have motorcycle, truck and car categories.
— Approved a $3,000 payment to Hadel IFE LLC for design work on the parallel taxiway at Parsons Tri-City Airport.
— Agreed to allow Mayor Verlyn Bolinger to sign the grant contract and other paperwork for a $92,000 grant to evaluate a secondary source of raw water for the city. The grant is from the Kansas Water Office. Commissioners also approved an engineering agreement with Olsson and Associates to conduct the feasibility study for the project.
— Approved a change order for licensing of equipment in the 911 dispatch center at the Parsons Police Department. The licenses will cost $1,500 more than the original contract amount of $30,847.
— Heard that Paxton Swanson has been hired as a new police officer and will attend the academy. Police Chief Robert Spinks said it will be the end of the year before training will allow Swanson to patrol on his own.
