Want to light fireworks outside of town?

Get a permit.

Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously Monday morning to establish a permit process for people aiming to shoot fireworks at times other than July 2, 3 and 4.

Consumer fireworks, such as sparklers, firecrackers and some aerial “artillery” shells, already are permitted in the county by state law, but only during the days leading up to the Independence Day holiday. No permit is required.

The exception: Fireworks continue to be banned all year in the city of Lawrence.

Monday’s decision would allow sparks to fly outside the city at other times of the year, provided each applicant fills out a detailed plan, pays a yet-to-be-determined administrative fee and secures permission to proceed from the appropriate authorities, including those from the fire department with jurisdiction in a given area.

Commissioners figure there’s no sense standing in the way of people looking to celebrate weddings, family reunions or other events with well-planned pyrotechnics.

“This is for special occasions,” Commissioner Jere McElhaney said.

Commissioners also intend to strengthen existing permit requirements for sales of fireworks. Vendors already need to secure permits to sell consumer fireworks July 2, 3 and 4, but officials occasionally have run into trouble enforcing some permit provisions, especially the ones designed to protect public safety.

Children play with fireworks in Douglas County. The Douglas County Commission voted unanimously Monday morning to offer firework permits for special events such as weddings and family reunions in the county.

Earlier this month, some fireworks tents at the edge of Lawrence were open for business as heavy rains inundated the Lawrence area. In some locations, that left some extension cords and other items soaking in puddles of water, where customers might walk.

“There are some people who definitely could have been electrocuted, under some of the conditions we saw,” said Keith Dabney, the county’s director of zoning and codes.

Charles Jones, commissioner chairman, said he came across one fireworks stand north of the Kansas River that displayed signs warning that “entry by any government agency will be considered trespassing.”

Jones’ take: “You can have no trespass, and you can have no permit.”

Commissioners intend to vote on such “explicit” inspection provisions sometime in August.

Permit applications are expected to be available by early next month from the county’s Department of Zoning and Codes, whose office is at 2108 W. 27th St.

Firework vendors clean up debris (07-06-04) Revelers stock up on fireworks despite restrictions on displays (07-04-04) County may permit firework displays (06-20-04)

In other action Monday, commissioners:

• Agreed to buy two new ambulances, for a total of $389,998, from American Emergency Vehicles, of Jefferson, N.C. The ambulances will replace two aging ambulances and are expected to arrive within nine months.
• Appointed a Board of County Canvassers to meet to review and certify results of the Aug. 2 primary election. Commissioner Jere McElhaney will be joined by Sue Neustifter (former register of deeds, sitting in for Jones), and Dean Nieder, former commissioner (sitting in for Commissioner Bob Johnson). The canvass is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 9 at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.
• Tentatively agreed to support efforts of the Success by 6 Coalition to apply for a grant that would boost early-education programs in Lawrence. Rich Minder, a member of the Lawrence school board and the coalition’s collaborative projects coordinator, said the federal grant could be worth $700,000 to $850,000, and would be administered by the Douglas County Child Development Assn., a coalition of early-education advocates. The grant would finance the hiring of coaches to help boost literacy and other efforts for children before they reach school age, then finance equipment purchases, programs and training to help at-risk children prepare for school.