Sheldon, Iowa — The City of Sheldon has two seasons when fireworks are legal to be detonated, they are around the Fourth of July and again over the New Year’s holiday.
Sheldon City Manager Sam Kooiker says that instead of two weeks during the holiday season to shoot off fireworks, this year it has been shortened to 12-and-a-half hours.
He tells us the city council voted to shorten this time frame after receiving feedback from the community. Many people gave feedback and testimony against the longer time frame that was previously in effect according to Kooiker.
The shorter time frame should help the police department manage the fireworks calls according to Kooiker.
He says that if people can follow the law everyone can enjoy the fireworks.
According to the Sheldon city code, fireworks may only be detonated on your own property. You cannot detonate them in the streets, in city parks, and they can not land in someone else’s property. If anyone breaks the law on fireworks they could face a fine of $250, but Kooiker says as far as he can remember there have been no fines issued yet.
Kooiker says he hopes there are no big issues that arise so everyone can enjoy celebrating with fireworks.
Fireworks can be detonated within the Sheldon city limits from noon on December 31st until 12:30 a.m. on January 1st.
