Establish regulations to allow for enjoyment of fireworks

The recent uproar over fireworks set off in celebration of a wedding has become an issue that should be addressed and resolved. To ban fireworks completely is to be swayed by the vocal minority that are upset by any display or offence to their personal space and would have it outlawed. There are over 7,000 people in Whitefish and the complaints come from less than a dozen.

Regarding the Pilot article outlining the event: No. 1 The Lodge had a permit and comments from Bill Dial as to his reluctance to sign it are outside of any legality of the display. No. 2 There were probably more people at the wedding and in the surrounding area that enjoyed the fireworks than people who complained. No. 3 “People were “awoken” Saturday night?” Who is in bed and asleep at 9:30 p.m. on a Saturday? Anyone who lives on the lake is probably not of the working class that has to get up before dawn. No. 4 “especially on the heals of the fire season” the launch barge was several hundred yards out in the lake and as far as I observed, there were no tailings that even came close to land. In addition, it rained two days before and immediately the next day after the event. No. 5 The display lasted 3 minutes.

Rather than ban fireworks entirely, especially launched from a vessel on a body of water (Whitefish Lake), establish regulation that will allow enjoyment of the fireworks regardless of the date.

Toby Scott, Whitefish