Nitro City Council approved restrictions on fireworks during its Tuesday night meeting.
The new ordinance addresses when and where fireworks are permitted for use as well as fireworks sales and possession. The change was prompted by a high number of complaints after larger commercial fireworks became legal in West Virginia this summer.
"People were not being courteous to their neighbors," Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said. "It caused a lot of problems with animals, some veterans and most people don't want a loud boom going off when they're in bed."
Nitro joins several Kanawha Valley communities in limiting the use of fireworks to Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day and New Year's Eve.
In Nitro, on all holidays except New Year's Eve, fireworks may be used from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. On New Year's Eve, fireworks are allowed until midnight. Additionally, fireworks must be launched from at least 50 feet away from any structure and fireworks may not be set off on other residents' property.
"One of the biggest problems we were having is people launching these new fireworks and the fireworks landing on the roof of their neighbor's home," Casebolt said. "It just protects the surrounding homeowners.
"It is a very sensible ordinance."
Only Bill Javins and Andy Shamblin - both serving as councilman-a-large - opposed the measure.
The two don't oppose the limit on use of fireworks, rather the restrictions the new ordinance places on the sale of fireworks.
"I am for everything in there expect the distance that they have to set up from," Javins said.
He doesn't believe there is an issue with a vendor setting up near a gas station or store like vendors have been doing for years with smaller fireworks.
Also on Tuesday, council gave the go ahead for the Kanawha Valley Disc Golf Club and Nitro Development Authority to map out a potential disc golf course at Nitro's Ridenour Lake to present to for council's approval.
Steve Koepsel, of the Kanawha Valley Disc Golf Club, touted the sport - where players follow golf's main concepts but ditch the golf clubs for a range of flying discs and aim for 4-foot high targets instead of holes - as fast growing and a friendly game for all ages and athletic skill set.
"[The course] brings people into in and is there for the community," Koepsel said.
The Kanawha Valley Disc Golf Club and Nitro Development Authority will help generate funds to complete the course, if council approves its plans. Koepsel hopes to have something for council members to review in about two months.
In other business, council:
n Unanimously approved $2,000 to purchase Go Math! Program for two third grade Nitro Elementary School classes.
n Adopted MS4 storm water ordinance
n Approved September 20 meeting minutes.