Fairview commission wants more hands-on local nonprofit firework sales
Chris GaddThe Fairview Board of Commissioners has taken steps to ensure that nonprofits who sell fireworks in the city work the sales booths instead of outsourcing the fireworks sales to a company.
The commission unanimously voted at it’s May 21 meeting to change the ordinance so the nonprofit must have the proper state permit and insurance.
“I think we need to amend (the ordinance) to tighten it up so it is applied to nonprofits that are actually working the sales, working the booth...and not for a nonprofit to just contract that out,” said Commissioner Derek Burks. “The idea was the nonprofits could raise some money by getting out and working these sales. I think that was the spirit of what we intended to pass originally.”
Commissioner Rod Dawson wanted to make sure the nonprofits were either based in Fairview or provided services regularly in Fairview.
Last year, the three fireworks vendors in Fairview were nonprofits and two of them outsourced for the fireworks sales.
The commission also wanted to ensure the nonprofit provides services to the city’s citizens and amended city laws to include language stating the nonprofits must “provide services to the citizens of Fairview.”
The changes go into effect on July 7.
Commissioner Scott Lucas was unsure about the changes, and opposed telling a nonprofit how to run its business.
“We are telling all of our nonprofits that they can sell fireworks but you have to do it this way,” Lucas said. “We are making a business decision for that nonprofit.”
In other business
Fairview City Administrator Scott Collins and the commissioners discussed a change to the city noise ordinance during its May 21 work session prior to the commission meeting.
Collins believes the ordinance needs to be slightly strengthened.
He said they talked about the “technical aspects of a noise ordinance, how to formulate the guidelines, and the tools necessary for enforcement.
More discussion will take place this month, Collins said.