PEA RIDGE — This Independence Day, fireworks will be blasting off in Pea Ridge city limits legally for the first time in 52 years.

At the regular City Council meeting May 17, the council adopted an ordinance amending the Pea Ridge Municipal Code to allow the discharge of fireworks on private property within city limits, as well as the sale of fireworks in city limits, from June 20 to July 10 and Dec. 10 to Jan. 5.

“This is a long time coming,” said city recorder Sandy Button.

It will remain unlawful to use fireworks on city streets or city property, and if the city is under a burn ban.

Typically, the Benton County judge or fire marshal will declare a burn ban if conditions are hazardous.

Citizens are required to “collect and remove any and all litter and debris from such use,” accordingto the ordinance.

“We’ll see how loud it gets from June to July,” councilman Bob Cottingham said.

It is now also permitted to sell fireworks inside city limits, with a proper permit, on the same dates.

An application for a permit and fee of $250 will be required to sell fireworks.

Sellers must be in compliance with all city codes and regulations.

Council members also approved the sale of fireworks this year by the Pea Ridge Fire Department as a fundraiser for the department. The sale will take place on city property adjacent to the Emergency Services building.

In other business, the council:

◊Adopted ordinance 517, removing the current fireworks code from the city’s Municipal Code;

◊Discussed the progress of repairing the bridge at Peck and Sugar Creek roads. Mayor Jackie Crabtree said engineer Steve Hesse has been surveying the damage and will prepare bid sheets. The total cost of repairs is expected to be in excess of $100,000,with FEMA and state funds covering most of the cost and the city responsible for 12 percent. Council members passed a motion to go ahead with the bid process when it’s prepared;

◊Heard from Pea Ridge Police Chief Tim Ledbetter regarding the damage to his vehicle in the recent flooding rains. Ledbetter said the insurance company totaled the Dodge Nitro that flooded while he was checking the safety of the roads near Sugar Creek last month. He has replaced that vehicle with a Dodge Ram truck using insurance money and funds from the Police Department budget, which will be replaced with the sale of the department’s three surplus vehicles;

◊Postponed the adoption of the amended sign ordinance to allow council members time to read overit more thoroughly. The second reading is set for June’s regular meeting; and

◊Tabled an ordinance to amend the city’s Municipal Code for the sign ordinance.

The next regular meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, at City Hall.

News, Pages 1 on 05/25/2011