Olive Branch aldermen pass new fireworks ordinance

There are some new adjustments to the fireworks restrictions in the City of Olive Branch, after action taken by the city’s Board of Aldermen on Tuesday evening. 

The vote to amend the ordinance regulating fireworks in the city passed on a 6-1 vote with Alderman Dale Dickerson the lone vote against it.  

“I don’t think this ordinance is well-intended as it is,” Dickerson said. “I love fireworks as much as anyone else in this city. This ordinance is not going to stop anyone. They’re going to shoot them when they want to.”

With the new restrictions, fireworks will be allowed to be discharged two days before the holiday, on the holiday itself, and one day following the holiday.  The holidays that the ordinance will affect are Independence Day, Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Day.  

Mayor Ken Adams said the ordinance changes were presented at his request.  Olive Branch Police and Fire Department leadership helped craft this new ordinance and believe it is now enforceable.

Anyone shooting off fireworks after 10 p.m. during the 12 days where fireworks are allowed would be found to be in violation. The lone exception is on New Year’s Eve when the discharge will be allowed until 12:15 a.m.  

Adams said the city really has had a complete prohibition on fireworks in the past, but, as most are now aware, officials have been unable to enforce it.  

“We have had an unenforceable ordinance of No Fireworks being allowed to be discharged for decades. These controls were supported by the Police, who also believe they are enforceable,” Adams said in an email Wednesday morning. “Fireworks have been discharged so long in Olive Branch that it is very likely most residents did not know they were prohibited from doing so.”

Adams went on to say that a number of fireworks businesses/stands were given conditional use permits to operate years ago and some still have years left in their permit to do business. 

“In essence, we are going from an Autobahn highway with no regard to speeding, to enforceable speed limits on discharging fireworks in Olive Branch,” said Adams about the new ordinance.