Grosse Pointe Woods

Woods wants change in fireworks law

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Fireworks are creating some booming headaches for local officials, and they’re not alone.

Communities across Michigan are going to the state to say something needs to be done to change the recent law that expanded the types of fireworks Michigan residents can set off and prohibited cities from regulating fireworks use around a list of national holidays.

As a result, the noise in many communities has been much louder this year and, for many, not in a good way. Woods city officials received a lot of emails, calls and messages from concerned residents.

“Lansing has gotten noise from all corners of the state,” Woods Council member Vicki Granger said. “I was hearing fireworks until three in the morning several days before, several days after (July 4).”

During its Aug. 6 meeting, the city approved an ordinance that incorporates the state law into the city’s current ordinance.

“Keep in mind that although many cities were scrambling at the last minute to enact local ordinances regulating fireworks in some way, Grosse Pointe Woods has had a prohibition on the use of fireworks on the books for several years,” City Attorney Chip Berschback stated in a letter to the mayor and council.

The city, however, can no longer regulate fireworks during the 30 days a year that are covered under state law, so they want the state to do something about it.

“I think state law needs to be changed,” Berschback told the council at the meeting.

“Some cities, such as Warren, have enacted regulatory ordinances which essentially defy the new state law,” Berschback stated in his letter. “What is really required is action at the state level.”

With all the concerns heading into Lansing on this issue from across the state, some kind of a change is likely to happen, officials indicated.

In the meantime, Grosse Pointe Woods included the possibility of future alterations in its ordinance by stating that if state law is changed, the council may choose to make changes to its own ordinance by resolution.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.