A Douglas County commissioner went against his mother’s wishes Wednesday night when he voted in favor of a fireworks display permit.

Betty McElhaney had asked that commissioners disapprove a class B fireworks display permit for July 1 requested by David Blevins, 1036 E. 1326 Road. The mother of Commissioner Jere McElhaney, Betty McElhaney, who lives near the Blevins, said she feared some of the professional fireworks that would be fired off would scare horses in her pasture.

Betty McElhaney said the size of some of the fireworks, some of which would be shot from 6-inch vertical mortars could scare a horse into running into a fence and seriously injuring itself, causing medical bills or even the death of a horse.

“I’m not against fireworks, but I am concerned about the size, noise and display,” she said.

Nevertheless, son Jere McElhaney, whose property is adjacent to the Blevins, and Commissioner Bob Johnson approved the permit in a 2-1 vote. They said all of the requirements for the permit application had been met.

Commissioner Charles Jones voted against it. Jones noted that one of the neighbors who opposed the permit would be in a fireworks “fallout” area.

Keith Dabney, director of the Zoning and Codes Department, said his office had received one letter and three phone calls opposing the fireworks display.

Commissioners said they thought the county’s fireworks permit ordinance may need to be revised in the future.

In other business, commissioners:

¢ Acting as the Hesper Charter Road Improvement District board, approved special assessments for road maintenance and improvements.

¢ Accepted petitions for three southeast Lawrence sanitary sewer main benefit districts.