MERCER COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS)– As residents see the sale of fireworks start for the summer season, the Mercer County Commission cautions residents about firework ordinances.
Mercer County Commissioner Greg Puckett wants residents to recognize that not all citizens might be able to enjoy fireworks.
“There are veterans with PTSD, people with livestock and pets that might be disturbed by fireworks. And we don’t want people setting off fireworks into two in the morning,” said Puckett.
In June of 2019, the Mercer County Commission enacted updated firework ordinances for residents of Mercer County. Resident cannot discharge fireworks from 9:00 pm to 11:59 pm starting June 24 and ending on July 7 and on July 5 from 12:00 am until 12:30 am.
This ordinance isn’t followed by Princeton or Bluefield, who have their own.
The commission is coming up with solutions for who can enforce these ordinances. Puckett says that the problem is with staffing. Currently, it is up to the sheriff to uphold and enforce these ordinances.
“Even if it comes down to the sheriff, we got a manpower issue,” said Puckett.
Chief Deputy Joe Parks with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department agrees that the staffing isn’t there.
“There’s a big ‘defund the police’ issue going on, and we can’t find people we can hire,” said Parks.
Parks also mentioned that it’s difficult to enforce the code because it would have to be proven that those residents discharged the firework.
“If we had full staff, I would probably send out one or two officers to give out written warnings and notices,” finished Parks.