T-R FILE PHOTO A scene from last year’s professional fireworks show during the Marshalltown Red, White and Blue Fourth of July celebration is pictured. Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed a law prohibiting cities and counties from restricting the use of fireworks beyond state regulations on July 3 and 4 and Dec. 31.

During three days, the skies above Marshalltown might be filled with more flashing lights and increased loud bangs might be heard throughout.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 303 on May 14. The bill, now law, denies city and county governments the ability to restrict or prohibit the usage of fireworks on July 3, July 4 and Dec. 31. Previously, the state allowed local governments to prohibit or ban fireworks from being lit within boundaries, but could not prohibit the sale.

Governments can still choose to keep the prohibitions or bans in place, just not on the three specified dates.

The City of Marshalltown has a ban on lighting fireworks within city boundaries, which will now be lifted July 3-4 and Dec. 31. Mayor Joel Greer was not happy about the turn of events.

“I thought the Republican Party was for local control,” he said. “This is an example of the state telling local governments that the state controls things now.”

This is not the first fireworks control taken from local governments. In 2022, cities were no longer able to restrict where fireworks sales took place.

“We had the power to ban sales, and now we cannot ban shooting on July 3 and July 4,” Greer said.

The mayor does not understand why the state is taking local control, as communities were trusted to establish their own ordinances.

“Now Des Moines is telling us we can’t do this. They have eroded our abilities to set levies for the library and the band,” he said. “We had a good thing that people voted on. Now we’re looking at ways to keep the library open on Sundays. We do not have the power we used to.”

The loss of local control is not the only reason the mayor is concerned with the ban being lifted on the three days. Greer is originally from Spencer, whose downtown almost burned down in an inferno caused by fireworks.

In 1931, a boy accidentally dropped a sparkler in a fireworks display in the Bjornstad Drug Store on Main Street. The resulting fire consumed more than 20 downtown buildings, and damages totaled more than $2 million. So, Greer grew up in a family believing fireworks were dangerous. He added that he did almost lose a finger at the age of eight when he was lighting firecrackers.

Greer, an attorney, has also represented clients in a few fireworks-related lawsuits. One involved a law student walking down the street who lost an eye from someone shooting a bottle rocket. Another lawsuit was for a man in Hardin County who threw lit fireworks into someone’s home.

While Greer added he could not fault the state for allowing fireworks July 3-4, he is concerned about the effects on veterans and dogs.

“I know veterans with PTSD and dog owners do not like fireworks,” he said.

Greer questioned whether or not lifting the ban would violate the city noise ordinance. The ordinance states noise cannot exceed 60 decibels for residential areas between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. However, Chapter 134 of Ordinance 14999 lists exceptions the ordinance would not apply to, and one of them is fireworks displays approved by the city or the county.

Police response

The mayor does not foresee Marshalltown Police Department officers ever citing citizens for lighting fireworks on July 4, especially as the city ban has been difficult to enforce, and many Marshalltown residents enjoy shooting and watching the pyrotechnics.

“Officers have found and fined people, but it’s difficult to prove,” Greer said. “People are smart about shooting in the street and not in their yard.”

According to Police Chief Chris Jones, a draft of the new city ordinance lifting the ban on the three dates should be read at an upcoming Marshalltown City Council meeting. He said it will certainly lift some of the workload of officers and relieve some overtime burden.

“We have special groups to enforce [fireworks],” Jones said. “I do not think the lift will lessen the amount of calls. I hope community members will be respectful, and hopefully they will not light fireworks outside of the allowed time.”

He provided the number of fireworks-related calls and arrests during the last four years, starting with 192 reports and 29 arrests in 2021; 190 calls and 22 arrests, 2022; 148 calls and 46 arrests, 2023 and; ending with 106 calls and three arrests, 2024.

“We usually have more than 100 calls on fireworks, people with complaints and concerns,” Jones said. “I am sure people will still complain on the days they are allowed.”

From a first responder standpoint, he said they will have to evaluate injuries and property damages.

“The legislature is clear in allowing this to happen,” Jones said. “I support the senators and representatives on their decisions. I am hoping the community will accept it, and hope people are more comfortable with fireworks in their neighborhoods.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.