Survey includes fireworks query

RITZVILLE – City residents and business leaders should be receiving a survey this week seeking input on a variety of services, amenities and ordinances.

One question new to the annual survey this year is about fireworks.

City Clerk/Treasurer Julie Flyckt told the City Council last week that the survey was about ready to go in the mail. Just prior to her report on the survey, the council was discussing a possible public hearing on what to do about fireworks in high fire danger years.

By adding a fireworks question to the survey, Flyckt said the city will get a better idea of how residents feel about banning fireworks.

Since state law requires a one-year moratorium on any laws that could ban fireworks anyway, Flyckt said adding the question to the survey won’t change anything now or even next year.

Under state law, the earliest the city could implement any ordinance that allows for the banning of fireworks would be September 2023, she said.

Community surveys are expected to be returned later this month, giving city leaders an opportunity to look at suggestions on fireworks before it begins the public hearing process.

Flyckt said she’d like to hold off any public hearing until Sept. 21, to give staff time to compile survey results and comply with public yearing requirements.

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