Council stands firm on fireworks firing period when asked to extend sales period

A discussion about fireworks – when selling and shooting are allowed – began Monday when a seller asked the City Council to extend the period of sales.

Brian Gunnels, who sells fireworks near the old Atwoods building on South Madison Street, asked that the council extend the time when fireworks can be sold within the city.

The code now limits both the sales and use of fireworks to: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. from July 1 – 3, and from 9 a.m. to midnight on July 4.

Council members shared complaints they have received about fireworks exploded after those time limits.

And it was mentioned that as amateur fireworks displays are being shut down in other cities families are coming as far away as Kansas City for fireworks displays here.

Gunnels pointed out that his customers living outside the city limits can shoot fireworks before and after Webb City’s time limit.

However, Fire Chief Andrew Roughton said, “If you allow sales in the city, they will think they can shoot them in Webb City.”

Mayor Lynn Ragsdale told Gunnels that the staff may consider extending the fireworks sales period, but, “We will not entertain extension of the shooting period.”

Oath of office renewal

City Clerk Kim DeMoss gave the oath of office to four council members returning after being elected on April 8.

They are: Andy Queen (1st Ward); Gina Monson (2nd Ward); Brad Baker (3rd Ward), and Debbie Darby (4th Ward).

The other four council members (beginning the second year of their current two-year terms) are: Ray Edwards (1st Ward), Alisa Barroeta (2nd Ward), Jerry Fisher (3rd Ward), and Jim Dawson (4th Ward).

Fisher was, as always, elected as mayor pro tem.

City Administrator Carl Francis reported:

• Paradise Lake in King Jack Park is full, bringing hope that attempts to fix the leaks last summer were successful.

• Fixing the leaks in the water system found by a specialist appear to reducing the amount of time the pumps have to run to keep the water tower full.

• The fire department has started annual business inspections and testing fire hydrants.

• Construction of the training facility next to the fire station continues.

• Public works has installed a fire hydrant to serve the new W Club athletic center in King Jack Park.

• Radio communications facilitated by Jasper County Emergency Services (JASCO) continue to expand.

The council:

• Allowed the police department to purchase two virtual servers on the JASCO 9-1-1 computer system to connect both dispatch consoles to communicate with JASCO 9-1-1. The virtual servers cost $2,500 apiece, compared to the $10,000 cost for a stand-alone server.

• Approved the donation of a disabled 1984 Chevy pickup (likely for parts) to the Duenweg Volunteer Fire Department. Webb City received that pickup in 2017 from the Missouri Conservation Department Donation Program.

• Approved the $7,527 purchase of bunker gear from Fire Master. Chief Roughton says with this purchase all firefighters will be equipped to the latest standards.