Marion City Council talks fireworks, Seventh Avenue bridge at worksession

MARION - Marion City Council members will draft an ordinance related to use of fireworks in the city at Thursday's meeting.

At Tuesday's work session, the council discussed possible options to ban use of fireworks, permit their use for a limited time, or permit their use for the full time period allowed under a new state law.

The state law passed during the 2017 legislative session allows the sale of consumer fireworks from June 1 to July 8 and from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3.

Fire Chief Deb Krebill previously had recommended to the council that they limit the use to a few days before and after July 4 and Jan. 1.

'We legislated very strongly against the Legislature passing this bill,” Krebill said. 'The reality is, if they're going to sell it, they are going to use them. I feel very sorry for law enforcement.”

Deputy Police Chief Doug Slagle said that enforcing the rules on firework use while fireworks are being sold in the state will be a challenge no matter what.

'We don't want to be fun haters, but the window is way too large on the state level,” he said.

Though council member Kim Etzel and Mayor Nicolas Abou-Assaly said they were concerned about safety and residents with post-traumatic stress disorder, council member Will Brandt said he would opt for full use of fireworks during the time when the state allows them to be sold. He said Marion residents have expressed interest in that option.

Krebill said she plans to keep track of how many firework-related calls the fire department receives in the next year. Last year, fireworks caused three fires, and consumer fireworks caused a dumpster fire just last weekend, she said.

On Thursday, the council also will discuss possible demolition of the old railroad bridge that spans Seventh Avenue south of Uptown Marion.

City Engineer Dan Whitlow told council members at the work session that he recommends demolishing three of the piers on the bridge. He said a consultant gave the structure a life span of only eight more years, and the concrete piers are degrading.

Demolition would cost more than $300,000, he said, and the funding would come from money already allotted to the city from the Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization.

If the council approves demolition Thursday, the structure will be tested for asbestos, Whitlow said.

The council discussed other uses for the bridge, including using a portion of it as a commemorative piece of art to tie the city back to its railroad roots.

The City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Marion City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave.

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