Troy BOA votes to ban fireworks

Naturally, the debate of the bill stirred up disagreement among the aldermen, with Ward III Alderwoman Rachel Dunard saying the ordinance was ridiculous and difficult to enforce.

“It’s July 4. How are you going to stop (the residents)?” she said. “They’re going to shoot them off anyway.”

Ward II Alderman Steven Jones agreed with Dunard, saying the Troy Police Department had more important things to do over the holiday weekend than writing citations over shooting off fireworks when they weren’t supposed to.

“You’re just going to put more work on the police department,” he said. “I don’t know how you’re going to stop them.”

However, Ward I Alderman Harold Horner said the ordinance was necessary. Even catching a few people violating the ordinance would send a message, according to Horner.

“It’s like catching speeders,” he said. “You’re not going to catch them all, but if we can catch some, we can send a major message to everyone here.”

Dunard said the ordinance sends a mixed message, not only to Troy residents, but to businesses as well.

“There’s a whole lot of contradictions here,” she said. “You can buy (fireworks) here, and you can sell them here, but you can’t shoot them here. We can make a ton of revenue from them within city limits, but no one can shoot them off within city limits.

“That makes no sense.”

Horner, however, said that was also a mistake made by the board.

“I was also against selling (fireworks) here from the beginning,” he said. “They shouldn’t be selling them here either.”

Despite Dunard’s objections, the ordinance passed, 4-2, with Jones joining Dunard as a “no” vote

In other business, the board also took up an ordinance that would allow the keeping of market lambs and sheep in city limits. 

According to the rules, the ordinance would benefit kids involved in 4-H, however, Jones was not impressed, saying he talked to people throughout the city – and they all said they were against such an ordinance.

Nevertheless, Ward I Alderman Guy Grimstead said, despite the objections of Jones and a couple of citizens, children need to have a chance to get outside – and Troy is the perfect place to do that.

Also, the ordinance could be treated as a noise complaint, with privileges that could be rescinded, like a noisy dog.

“We’re standing against 4-H in the city if we do this,” Grimstead said. “If you want to talk about annoying animals, we could talk about dogs.

“I’d like to see a kid pick up a hoe, shave a sheep and where else could you get that other than Troy, Missouri? Wentzville? O’Fallon? St. Charles? Maybe not, but right here is the perfect place to do this.”

This ordinance also passed, 4-2, with Jones and Ward II Alderman David Norman voting against the bill.