By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

ELLIS COUNTY – Fireworks will remain banned in rural Ellis County.

At Monday’s meeting, the Ellis County Commission elected to keep in place a ban on fireworks in unincorporated areas of Ellis County.

In 2013, the commission approved a resolution permanently banning fireworks in the county, but in recent years has voted to relax the ban if the conditions allowed.

At Monday’s meeting, the commissioners said because the city of Hays is allowing the discharge of fireworks from July 2nd through the 4th they will keep the current ban in place for the county.

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said allowing fireworks in the county under the current conditions would be putting the rural fire department, “at risk to be very busy on (the) Fourth of July.”

If conditions improve, the commission can pass a resolution at a later meeting lifting the ban.

According to Rural Fire Chief Darin Myers, Ellis and Schoenchen are allowing fireworks. Victoria will decide later this month.

Graham, Rooks, Osborne and Trego Counties will allow fireworks. Barton County will not.


In other business, the commission instructed Myers to resubmit bids for a new pickup to replace an existing one that needs a new engine. Myers had previously received bids from the state contract and a local dealer for a Ford pickup but the commission instructed him to get bids on other brands and from local used car dealers.

The commission also met in executive session to discuss attorney/client privilege. No action was taken.