No Firework Citations Issued in Hays
When the City of Hays decided to ban the sale and use of fireworks in Hays, after they had already been on sale, the Hays Police Department thought that they would see a lot of illegal use of fireworks. Instead they found that the people of Hays, for the most part, obeyed the ban.
Lt. Brandon Wright with the Hays Police Department said that there were no citations issued and the Hays PD has issued just one warning since the ban went in effect. Wright said the warning was issued to the renter of a property that was hosting a party because they were unable to determine who was lighting the fireworks.
Wright also said that the majority of the calls they received were people asking questions after the ban was already in place.
It goes to show you, that the citizens of Hays are pretty smart after all. The citizens of Hays knew that the dry conditions were bad this year for fireworks, but they all promoted a safe and eventful 4th of July.
The problem is all the Fireworks stands, still have all their fireworks that cannot be returned and they have lost their butts this year. Except Linda’s Fireworks, which moved their trailer to Rush County to sell their fireworks. All the other Fireworks stand in Ellis, Hays and Victoria lost hundred of hours of manpower in organizing this year’s sale.
If anyone has ever tried to put a Fireworks stand together would know that you have a ton of hours preparing for the 4th each year. Also, you tend to have a lot of up front expenses. Such as advertising, shipping or going and get the fireworks, the cost of the fireworks inventory, supplies & banners, meals, rental of the tent, rental of the property to put the tent on and insurance & permits.
I really feel bad for the fireworks stand organizations this year, such as CYO, ESBA. Because our elected officials, failed to use common sense, to ban fireworks prior to opening day of selling. Fireworks were banned after the fireworks stands were set up and allowed to sell them. Our Mayor and council members should of had the courtesy or common sense to say, hey, we made a mistake and should of banned fireworks before the 1st legal day of selling them this year.
So, since we made this mistake, we the City of Hays have a legal obligation to pay these organizations for all their expenses and give them 50% of profit on their total cost of Inventory. I think this is fair and a reasonable cure for the situation this year.
I myself have donated my $100 that I had budgeted for fireworks this year and have given that money to them to show my support. I’m sure if any other citizens want to donate to their organization, I’m sure they would appreciate it also.
I think if I was a Mayor or a Council member, I think I would put a rule in affect so that this never happens again. Example of rule would be “Ellis County must of had at least 6″, 8″ or what ever number of inches of rain by June 1st, to allow the sale or discharging of fireworks for Independence 4th of July day.
My issue with the city commission is not the fireworks ban itself, but with the timing of the ban. You allowed the stands to open for 2 days, just enough time to sell 1 unit out of a case, insuring that the case cannot be credited or returned. The mayor issues a statement on June 28 giving the go ahead for fireworks and then turns around on the 29th and issues a ban. People have no idea how much money and labor would have been saved if the ban had been issued just 2 days earlier.
You are absolutely correct.
You know, part of capitalism is taking risks. When you set up a business like a fireworks stand, you are aware that it is possible that your product could be banned due to events outside of your control. Its a bit like farming. There is no guarantee that the weather will cooperate when you drill your wheat and you could end up ruined in the spring when the hail falls. I’m sure there is insurance for such eventualities as having your fireworks stand fail, but I’m not sure that the municipality has any obligation to ensure that private businesses make a profit. The suggestion that they do falls under the “we’re all for capitalism until we aren’t” sentiment that seems to run wild in this state. If a person wants to donate money to a non-profit organization of their choice there is nothing stopping them. They are welcome to do as you did and donate their firework money. That being said, as a taxpayer, I see no reason why my money should go to ameliorate the effects of a risky investment for a private, for-profit, venture.
One problem with your theory Mary, the forecasted weather conditions didn’t change between the 28th, when the mayor gave the thumbs up, and the 29th when he banned them.
It seems you missed the point of Mary’s statement. She did not mean it it was a weather change that prompted the decision, as we all know it was a flood of phone e calls from concerned and level headed citizens. Mary was saying that our tax dollars should not go to aid the downfall of a risky business.
However, there are farming subsides in the world and o e could argue that it is a similar idea. Of course those are slowly dissapearing and going towards food stamps.
Mary, that was a great comparison on your behalf, apples (wheat) and oranges (fireworks). There is no such insurance out there, which can be purchased, because of a potential ban. Insurance is only available for damage to inventory or damage to individuals or property.
Mary you have no idea what your talking about here and you are defiantly a perfect candidate and should run for political office in Hays. Because you have all the credentials of someone with no common sense. I’m sure the fireworks stand organizations, knew there is risk with selling fireworks, just like any other business adventure out their. But banning fireworks after they were given the go ahead to sell, was not one of them.
That would be like your comparison of wheat and fireworks. One day the doctor says you are pregnant and the very next day, the doctor says you cannot have the baby, because it’s been dry and there will be no wheat this year. DUH, MAKE’S SENSE RIGHT! NOT!!!
The problem is the fireworks stands were given the go ahead and ok to sell, based on the decision of the Mayor’s findings. Once the Mayor made the call that it was safe to sell and discharge fireworks in Hays. The fireworks stands began to sell their inventory and breaking open boxes to put inventory on the tables. Than the Mayor and all his dummy’s started to get bombarded with phone calls and threatening emails.
So, the very next day the Mayor made the decision to ban the fireworks from being sold or being discharged in Hays, except for the Wild West Festival. They were given the go ahead, since the city has interest in. WWF was still allowed to discharge their inventory.
The problem is the Mayor should of banned fireworks way before he gave the fireworks stands the go ahead to start selling and the ban should of included all individuals and entities, there should of been no favoritism.
As far as your taxpayer money and my taxpayer money. The way I see it, is that the fireworks stands saved the taxpayers a lot of money, by not having police, sheriffs, city fire fighters, rural fire fighters and highway patrol being dispatched all day. So, the fair thing to do, is to take that money that the city and county saved and pay the fireworks vendors for elected officials very bad decisions.
I personally think they need to let residents that DID buy fireworks to let them be discharged on a weekend after some rainfall has been received…i.e. labor day/ new years eve…. I know other areas have followed this and I really wish the city of Hays would go through this as well!
But I’m sure it’s going to go no where… if I can recall a recent Hays Daily News article one of the commissioners or the mayor(can’t exactly remember who) talked about banning fireworks in Hays forever. That would be one of the worst decisions ever and a HORRIBLE display of patriotism to the country.
Weren’t fireworks banned before? I moved here in 1998 and remember finding it strange that they weren’t selling any and was told that Ellis Co. didn’t allow them. I don’t remember when that changed. Does anyone remember? How recent was that? I moved for a few years and then saw stands around and discovered that ban had been lifted.
Fireworks were banned and then they limited them to non-aerial fireworks until 3-4 years ago when they allowed all fireworks that are legal in the state of Kansas.
Even when those fireworks were banned for those years I’m sure back then the decision was made prior to the vendors setting their tents up and having their merchandise for sale.
it all comes down to the mayor not having the giblets to stick with his decision, he had to let the phone calls of others make it for him. everyone needs to remember this come election time and get someone in that knows how to make their own decision.
Rob, absolutely nobody will give a crap come election time and not too many people want the thankless job of mayor anyway.