Ludington to consider fireworks ban

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Council is considering tightening the city’s fireworks ordinance. The council will have a first reading of a proposed change to the ordinance during its regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m.

“In response to some residents complaining about the noise and disruption caused by the repeated discharge of fireworks late at night, I have attached a proposed amendment to Section 22-98 of the city code,” City Manager John Shay wrote in a memo to the council and Mayor Ryan Cox. “In short, the proposed amendment would prohibit anyone from discharging or using consumer fireworks within the city an any time, except on the day preceding, the day of or the day after a national holiday (allowed by state law).”

Current city code allows for the discharge of fireworks in the city between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. any day of the year except on the day preceding, the day of or the day after a national holiday, which allows for discharge between 8 a.m. and 1 a.m.

The new ordinance removes the allowance of fireworks between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and prohibits them except when trumped by the state law and except when special permission is granted by the council.

The city of Scottville already prohibits fireworks at any time, except during the state allowed exempt days. Violators in Scottville can pay up to a $500 fine.