St. Albans City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to regulate the use of fireworks within city limits.
The ordinance, which passed by unanimous voice vote, focuses on safety precautions and includes regulations in regard to the possession of fireworks. People may only set off fireworks between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, and between the hours of 11 a.m. Dec. 31 and 1 a.m. Jan. 1 to celebrate the New Year.
People may obtain special permission from the Chief of Police to use fireworks for special events on other days, but may not use the fireworks while under the influence. Those using fireworks are responsible for cleanup within 24 hours and must be financially responsible for any damages or cost of fire suppression efforts.
Fireworks may not be used within 100 feet of any building or structure without permission from the owner or from any motor vehicle. Fireworks may not be used in public areas or within 500 feet of gas stations, chemical storage or during periods of very high or extreme fire danger.
Any person convicted of a violation of any of these terms will be subject to a $500.00 fine per offense.
St Albans candidate filing dates began on Jan. 5 and will continue from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Jan. 23 from at the City Clerk's office. Eligibility for candidacy for each position is contingent on number of signatures from registered voters within the city and a filing fee for each position.
The elections will be held on June 3 and the term of office will be July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020.
In other action, Council passed by unanimous voice vote an ordinance upon second reading to lease-purchase certain equipment from Country Roads Leasing, LLC.
Council also unanimously passed, by unanimous voice vote, the payment of the following finance committee recommendations:
n Current invoices in the amount of $3,220.52
n Approval of purchase of a 2017 Dodge Charger for the police department in the amount of $28,992 to be paid from Kanawha County Public Safety Grant and $3,992 from Police Seizure Account.
n Approval to purchase emergency lights, sirens and radios to be installed for four new police cruisers from Electronic Communications in the amount of $26,331.92 ($6,582.98 per car) to be paid as follows: $15,000 from line item 976-459 and $11,331.92 from Police Seizure Account.
Council members discussed some items not on the agenda.
Ward 5 Councilman Christopher Withrow brought up the issue of lighting in dangerous alleyways in his and Councilwoman Cheryl Thomas' Ward 4.
Both expressed concerns for the safety of their constituents and the police officers that may respond to calls in the dark areas.
"Recently through the safety committee we had talked about putting lights in some really suspicious areas, high traffic where we know there is drug activity and some other behaviors that are going on," Withrow said. "[After] talking to everybody on that street, they really want these lights because they are tired of people walking through their yards and one individual has had his house broken into twice and another had his tires cut."
Withrow went on to say he felt it was council's duty to keep the city safe.
"I think that if we don't look at putting lights in these alleys where they hide and do their drugs and behavior and basically hold this neighborhood at bay," Withrow said. "It went to Public Works and it got shut down."
After discussion of costs brought by Councilman-at-large Jerry C. Cogar, Council agreed to bring the issue to the Public Works department for a second time.
Vice-Mayor, Ward 7 Councilman Desper Lemon brought an issue from his ward. Council recently voted to change Roosevelt Avenue to a one-way street and Lemon's constituents have brought a petition to change the road back.
"I went to every house of Roosevelt Avenue, told them what was happening and that the ordinance would be forthcoming," Lemon said. "There was no exception at all to the fact that we were doing this."
Lemon plans to go back to the houses and his constituents to speak with them about their problems with the change.
All members of Council were present for Tuesday's meeting. Council's next meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 on the second floor of the municipal building at 51 Sixth Ave.