Mayor Response on Fireworks at Canby High School

I want to take a moment and address the recent conversation that has been occurring around fireworks at Canby High School football games and recent concerns raised to the City Council. 

Last year, a resident that lives near the high school brought to the City Council his concerns about the fireworks. He suffers from PTSD. His concerns were the percussive nature, or loud booms, and the randomness that occurs around the fireworks set off after a score at the football game. 

During the conversation last year, as a compromise, we asked the school district to use a less percussive firework and we re-worked our city noise ordinance to allow fireworks for the football games.  Included in this was that the school needed to inform surrounding homes of when the use of fireworks were going to occur. Any other use of fireworks outside of football games, such as graduation, need to be a separate, individual noise ordinance request for each event to the council.  ALL parties agreed that this was a solid solution. This was a verbal agreement and understanding between the school district and the city.

Forward to last week, the same resident with a petition with signatures from several other residents and businesses approached the Canby School Board as well as the City Council about the upcoming football season and fireworks. 

The following day, our City Manager, Rick Robinson, in collaboration with me, sent an email to Canby School District Superintendent Trip Goodall. The intent of the email was a request, in response to the petition, to switch the fireworks to a non-percussive variety or to not do them at all.  Based on the ordinance, the school district could choose to continue the fireworks as is. We made an appropriate ask, even though we had come to the verbal understanding a year ago as mentioned above. 

I know there is a way to work together to keep fireworks a part of the Canby High School football home game tradition. I know that the City of Canby and the Canby School District can work out a solution that all sides can be proud of. 

Should you have any questions or concerns about this issue, please visit my Facebook page and send me a private message.