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o�sou TH <br /> F dx <br /> :J b <br /> W eFacE � � <br /> y� a 1, a2 <br /> 1865 <br /> Office of the Mayor <br /> NEWS RELEASE <br /> June 8, 2007 <br /> 3:30 PM <br /> Luecke proposes major restrictions on fireworks <br /> Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications&Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876- <br /> 1564; City Attorney Chuck Leone, 235-5857,Fire Chief Howard Buchanon, 235-7553;Police <br /> Chief Thomas Fautz, 235-9311 <br /> The City of South Bend will impose significant restrictions on the use of small consumer <br /> fireworks, according to an ordinance drafted at the request of Mayor Stephen J. Luecke <br /> and filed this week with the city clerk. <br /> The proposed ordinance likely will be assigned to a committee for consideration Monday <br /> by the South Bend Common Council. Public hearing on the bill has not yet been set. <br /> The proposed ordinance will ban the use of small consumer fireworks in South Bend with <br /> the exception of the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve, and five evenings before and <br /> after July 4. The council will give the ordinance's first reading Monday and could adopt <br /> it as soon as June 25. <br /> Professional public displays are not impacted by the ordinance, but continue to be <br /> regulated by the State Fire Marshal. The state also regulates sales, their terms and <br /> conditions, and prohibits sales to and use by minors. <br /> The proposed ordinance amends South Bend's existing fireworks regulations following <br /> passage of Senate Bill 9 by the 2007 General Assembly, signed into law May 8 by the <br /> governor. The legislation specifies hours on several days through the year when there <br /> can be unlimited use of consumer fireworks, but gives local units of government the <br /> ability to restrict or completely ban their use the rest of the year. <br /> "This time of year when the weather turns nice and residents open their windows to the <br /> outdoors, they also grow weary of the acrid smell and the noise caused by fireworks," <br /> Luecke said. "This proposed ordinance strikes an equitable balance between allowing <br /> safe celebrations and regulating the time, place and manner of those activities. With this <br />