By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was a standing-room-only crowd that gathered in Hays City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Monday for a special city commission meeting to discuss the sale and use of fireworks.

In a normal year, the city of Hays allows fireworks to be discharged only on July 2, 3 and 4 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Hays is in the fourth year of a drought and commissioners chose to continue a ban for the third year at the May 22 meeting.

Twice since then, the issue has been revisited at the request of vendors and residents because of plentiful rain in Hays during June. Citing concerns about sending mixed messages when Hays remains in a drought and that Ellis County, Ellis and Victoria have a fireworks ban, the commission retained the ban.

Following weekend rainfall of nearly two inches, Monday night they voted 4-1 to remove the ban and allow the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city of Hays July 2, 3 and 4.

The commissioners cautioned that Hays still remains in a drought although lawns are green.

Commissioner Kent Steward reversed his earlier votes and said he was in favor of allowing fireworks this year.  Vice-mayor Eber Phelps remained against the measure and voted “no.”

A fireworks ban remains in effect outside of Hays city limits and the city of Ellis.