Amendment proposes to raise county’s fireworks stand fee from $25 to $1,000

If an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance is approved next month, the cost of a fireworks stand permit will go up from $25 to $1,000 per location. The fee increase is part of an amendment presented to the commission last week that Planning and Zoning Director Donnie Thiel says brings the county more in line with what other municipalities are doing. Thiel said the $25 fee has been in place since Dickson County adopting zoning regulations in 1989. He told commissioners the city of Charlotte charges $1,000, Dickson charges $1,000 plus a refundable $200 deposit, Burns charges $500 and White Bluff bids out its one fireworks stand site based on the percentage of sales with a minimum of $1,000. Thiel said last year there were six fireworks stands located in the county but outside any of the municipalities. While the amendment makes a few other changes, Thiel said the biggest change is the “pretty hefty increase” in the permit fee. Another change allows fireworks sales only on property zoned agricultural, industrial or commercial and will no longer allow them on residential property. The amendment limits sales to a 30-day period around the July 4^th and Christmas/New Year’s holidays. There also are licensing, parking, signage, safety and insurance provisions and Thiel said the proposed amendment incorporates the county’s previous policy into its zoning document. The commission voted unanimously to send the amendment to a March 18 public hearing before final consideration that night.