Politics & Government
Does Hartland Need a Fireworks Ordinance?
The Hartland Township Board of Trustees will review language for a possible fireworks amendment in an upcoming meeting.
During Tuesday night’s Hartland Township meeting, the Board of Trustees discussed the possibility of implementing a new Fireworks Ordinance specifically for prohibiting the use of fireworks during certain hours.
According to the township's Facebook page, Hartland Township does already have a Nuisance Ordinance that states “it shall be deemed a public nuisance, for any person to unreasonably make, continue or cause to be made or continued any noise that annoys or disturbs the quiet, comfort or repose of a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or that injures or endangers the health, peace or safety of the public within the Township.”
The ordinance is enforceable from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on any day except the day before, day of and day after a national holiday.
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However, in late June, Michigan added an amendment to its Fireworks Act giving communities the opportunity to prohibit the discharge of fireworks from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. the day before, day of and day after a national holiday in their communities.
Township Clerk Larry Hopkins told the board that he had had several inquires from residents asking if the ordinance would be added in Hartland.
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“My thought was if we had someone who was really being a problem, it would be nice to have a tool to do something about it,” Clerk Larry Hopkins said.
As the Fourth of July holiday approached last week, Josh Lord commented on the Hartland Patch Facebook page about the potential noise.
“Fireworks are the worst part about living in Hartland," Lord wrote. "The frustration of listening to them go off on weekdays and weekends starting as early as 9 and going as late as 10:30/11 (or later) is beyond words. Leave the fireworks to the professionals, and realize that nearly every neighbor can't stand your "display of patriotism."
Township Supervisor Bill Fountain asked that Manager James Wickman research language regarding a possible ordinance to be looked at and discussed during an upcoming board meeting.
So, what do you think? Does Hartland need a Fireworks Ordinance?
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