Iola councilmen last week kept in place a ban on the use of fireworks in the city and Barbara Culbertson, who lives just outside of town, asked Allen County commissioners to impose a curfew .
Culbertson told commissioners Tuesday morning that some of her neighbors fired away into the wee hours of the morning in the rural addition just north of the former Haldex plant.
“That’s hard on people who work and have to get to sleep at night,” she said, saying the nighttime pyrotechnics happened more than just on July 4.
“We could do it,” said Commissioner Dick Works. “But it would be an enforcement issue with just two deputies on duty at night to patrol better than 500 square miles.”
“I think it’s an Alan issue,” piped in Chairman Rob Francis, referring to County Counselor Alan Weber.
Weber hadn’t yet joined the meeting, but Sheriff Tom Williams did during the discussion.
Williams said he wasn’t keen on a curfew, allowing that July 4 was set aside to celebrate the country’s independence, but did say if “behavior goes beyond what’s normal, call 911 and we’ll talk to them.” Violators could be cited for disturbing the peace, Williams said, which could lead to citation if they were persistent.
Williams said he preferred to discuss the issue with the perpetrators and explain the benefits of being a good neighbor.
Late-night fireworks irks county resident
