HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-13-20 Public Comment - H. McFadden - FireworksFrom:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Monday, July 13, 2020 2:31:35 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:07/13/2020 2:31 PM
Response #:491
Submitter ID:28495
IP address:2600:6c67:5080:4582:1c00:71a9:4235:d392
Time to complete:29 min. , 7 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Due to City Hall's closure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person delivery of comments is not
available until further notice.
First Name Hugh
Last Name McFadden
Email Address hbmcfadden@yahoo.com
Phone Number 406 599 6669
Comments
I wrote to you about fireworks before the 4th. No reply,
I like fireworks. In another location, I used to fire an anvil a hundred feet into the air and split 3' logs with
black powder, all for entertainment on the 4th. The difference is that I did my show out of town on a ranch
with the owner's permission and no close neighbors. I am not anti-fireworks. I am anti-lawbreakers and am
telling you that fireworks have no place in a civilized town. You must agree with me. Your ordinance says so.
The 4th was unbearable. Your ordinance disallows all fireworks within 300 feet of parkland. Every house in
New Hyalite View is within 300 feet of parkland. Most of them share a boundary with the park. So,
fireworks are illegal in the subdivision. That should be easy to enforce. Yeah, right.
It sounded like WWIII. Large fireworks, big explosions, virtually constant for 5+ hours. These are not
fountains and ladyfingers.
And it isn't over. It continued for 5 nights (the last 2 were one big shell each night), until last night July 12,
when we had a 10-minute reprise of the 4th.
We have done all we can. We read the ordinance. One year we called the police. A nice young officer came
out and, frankly, shined us on. He persuaded one person to hold off until everyone else started. That's it.
Our dogs cannot tolerate explosions. One pees on the bed immediately. Then she shakes for hours and
hides in the bathtub. That's with 4 mg of lorazepam on board. She has been so traumatized by the racket
that she goes catatonic from a single explosion and does not recover for a couple of hours. This dog is a
read-to dog, therapy dog, and accomplished obedience dog. She has given a lot to this community, our
library, our rest homes. Our vet says her reaction is common. Gun dogs like fireworks. Most dogs do not.
Of course we people cannot sleep with noise equivalent of military weapons going on constantly. To have
this outrage going on for days and days is too damn much.
One year fireworks set off a grass fire. The Commis sioners came out, said "tut tut", and left. One year I
found a spent rocket next to a pile of dry dead leaves beside our house. It had to have flown at least 75'
high to have come down where it did. Do you require a house fire before you will listen?
We have bought drugs, earplugs, and have even escaped to a forest service cabin (not available this year).
Why we should have to spend a fortune because others break the law I do not understand. Can you please
explain so that I can understand?
Why do you have an ordinance that you will not enforce?
I'm sure this will go on for more days and nights. There're only about 5 or 6 houses in the whole subdivision
where the excess goes on. Is that just too much for your police to handle?
I know you don't want constituent input. It's inconvenient and challenging. But you ran for public office.
With your victory comes power, thrills, and responsibility. Is there anyplace in this town where the buck
stops? If not with you, then where?
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply
directly to this email.