BELLEVILLE — Mayor Mark Eckert on Monday issued a temporary ban of the few fireworks that are typically legal in the city.
At the City Council meeting during which he announced his executive order to do so, Eckert said city leaders are trying to avoid accidental fires that could happen as a result of setting off fireworks in such dry weather.
"It's a situation where we don't want to take any chances," Eckert said.
Most fireworks are already illegal, but the legal ones, such as sparklers, party poppers, smoke devices and snakes, are banned in the city for what will likely be at least two weeks, or until the dry weather subsides.
He said complaints to police about fireworks so far have been minimal, so he hopes people will continue to comply the rest of the week.
To those who are tempted to break the statewide fireworks law and local temporary order, he said: "It's extremely dangerous. Don't."
No aldermen or members of the public spoke against his order.
Also at the council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved selling or donating items from the now-closed municipal swimming pool.
The city will try to sell them first to individuals or businesses who may want them, and then donate them to nonprofit agencies if no one wants to buy them.
Those interested can attend a sale of the items at the pool on Hecker Street from 9 a.m. until noon July 18.
The long list of available items includes concrete picnic tables, a soda fountain machine, life jackets, and plastic loungers. For a complete list, those interested can contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 233-1416.
In other business, the council:
* Approved paying $1.7 million in construction bills for the ongoing sewer plant overhaul. The payments will go to Korte & Luitjohan Contractors and Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen.
* Approved a change order to an asphalt resurfacing project on Premier Drive, for $22,000 with low bidder Gleeson Asphalt.
* Promoted Police Sgt. Matt Eiskant to lieutenant, and Detective Rob Thomason to sergeant.
Contact reporter Laura Girresch at lgirresch@bnd.com or 239-2507. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/BNDBelleville.
