Village to toughen up on fireworks violations

Residents who escaped fines for setting off July 4 fireworks in violation of a Village ordinance might not be so lucky next year. Macon County Sheriff’s office deputies plan to aggressively pursue enforcement after reporting that violations were more prevalent this year than in the past.

The Village has two choices, according to Village Administrator Heather Kimmons. “It’s a safety issue,” she said. “The sheriff’s office has asked for guidelines. Either we enforce a state statute that will cause a person to be arrested with possible prosecution as a criminal offense, or we choose to enforce the Village ordinance with a fine not to exceed $2,000.”

Mayor Hap Gilbert said he would like the matter handled at the local level. He said he received several complaints throughout the evening because of the noise, which trustee Larry Reed described as “a nuisance.”

Forsyth’s ordinance does allow fireworks with permits, but permit requirements are “fairly stiff” in accordance with a 2006 directive from the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kimmons said. The Village has not issued a permit since 2006.