The City of Perry is considering adding more police presence during next year’s 4th of July holiday.

A recently formed committee of Council members Randy McCaulley and Barb Wolling and Police Chief Eric Vaughn updated the City Council on their discussions during their recent meeting. The committee has been looking at ways to address the increase in fireworks complaints last July. Vaughn says his department received 66 firework-related calls, three regarding property damage, and issued three citations over the 4th of July weekend. Some changes they’re looking at making to the ordinance include limiting where vendors can sell fireworks, holding property owners responsible for fireworks lit on their property, and designating an area where residents can set them off as there were a lot of complaints coming from the City’s business district.

City Administrator Sven Peterson asked the committee to review what it would cost to have more law enforcement monitoring the area. There are usually 2-3 Perry Police officers working the night of July 4th. With the holiday falling on a Sunday, Peterson and several Council members are worried there will be more opportunities for people to ignite fireworks illegally. The current ordinance allows fireworks only to be discharged from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. on July 4th. Peterson adds that the committee will start working with the city attorney to draft a new ordinance to bring to the Council.