Payne-Phalen District 5 Planning Council

Hurrah! We can finally have fireworks!

I love fireworks, and I love my neighbors. But lets be realistic, they don't usually mix when you're 5ft away from your next door neighbor, and you're lighting them all night long!

We have a new neighbor in our street, who seems to think that spending all night lighting hundreds of dollars of the noisiest fireworks is fun. Problem is, almost every other neighbor on this street owns a dog or a cat. Now this nice neighbor started lighting fireworks a 8:30pm, and they're still going at almost 11pm.

My dog's are anxious and nervous thanks to all the popping noises, and so I've not had the opportunity to visit a public display like I usually do, because my house would be destroyed while I was away.

Something that amazed me watching the burned embers returning to Earth was the fact that almost every house in the neighborhood has an asphalt roof! Now I wonder how long it'll take before we have a major problem in this department. Who's responsible when a neighbor accidentally sets your roof on fire?

Professional firework displays are safe for three reasons - it's organized with a known start and end time, it prevents fires, and it makes neighbors happy. Lets not forget this when lighting in our neighborhood. If you do, please have some consideration for your neighbors (like getting finished before 10:30pm)

Thanks

Fireworks and Stereos

I agree that the larger fireworks have major issues for health and safety. I can imagine an ember landing in one of our parks and starting a grass fire. I also know of neighbor who apparently had a bottle rocket ''shot'' at them by another neighbor with numerous personal issues. With regard to the noise problem, this behavior probably falls under the same level of crime as the boombox cars. My guess is both behaviors are misdemeanors and not crimes. If so, a STP police officer emphatically told me that they were NOT a high priority and he would NOT actively enforce these types of ordinances. Consequently, the practical reality is that you are probably on your own and will need to use some honey to hopefully change your neighbor's behavior. The police do not have the resources to handle these ''little'' ordinance issues.

By EGD Planning

Had enough of Snap crackle pop?

I wonder if neighbors - working through block clubs - could communicate directly with folks who are causing a problem. Perhaps negotiate some parameters for fireworks use - or send around a flyer before ''fireworks'' season to remind people that their behavior will impact others. Certainly call your City Council reps (contact info on the City of St. Paul webpage) to register interest in addressing the safety or nuisance impact of fireworks.