MEDICAL LAKE – The City Council approved TNT Fireworks’ application to sell fireworks within city limits, despite lingering confusion about the local fireworks ban.
City Manager Sonny Weathers clarified the nature of the permit during the council meeting.
“There isn’t anything about the sale of fireworks,” Weathers said. “This permit is before retail sale.”
Councilman Don Kennedy highlighted the discrepancy between the ban on discharging fireworks and their availability for purchase.
“We gladly sell you these fireworks but if you discharge them, that’s a misdemeanor,” Kennedy said. “I hope people understand that.”
Mayor Terri Cooper proposed a solution to address the potential misunderstanding among residents.
“They would have them put up a notice,” Cooper said, referring to TNT Fireworks.
However, Cooper acknowledged the limitations of the city’s authority over the sale of fireworks. “Don’t think we have a legal basis – it’s allowed under commerce,” she said.
Medical Lake’s approval of the permit came with an understanding of the existing ban on fireworks use within the city, aiming to balance commercial interests with public safety and legal compliance.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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