The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee will recommend to the full City Council fireworks will be allowed within City limits from 6-pm until Midnight on the 4^th of July, and on New Year’s Eve from dusk until 12:15-a.m. New Year’s Day. Governor Branstad, Tuesday, signed a bill into law allowing the sale of fireworks in Iowa, beyond the traditional sparklers, snakes and caps. The bill prohibits cities and counties from banning the sale, but it does not set forth rules as to if or when they can be used on those two holidays.

The CPC agreed to allow only tent sales of fireworks in the City by licensed and insured vendors, but also agreed to charge a $200 fee on top of the $1,000 fee vendors pay to the state for certification and licensing. The sites must also be inspected as required by the bill, but because the State Fire Marshals Office is so busy, the question of who will inspect the vendor operations, is not clear.

City Administrator John Lund talk with Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees about the requirements and ask him to conduct the inspections.