Fireworks coming to a farm near you

The Belgium Village Board last week agreed to allow Buechler Farms to hold fireworks shows.

Owners Irene and Brian Buechler asked for an annual permit to make for less paperwork, but Village Attorney Gerry Antoine didn’t like that idea since officials wouldn’t know when they’d be shooting off fireworks.

He couldn’t find a municipality in the state that has an annual permit. Several have case-by-case permits that range in cost from no fee in the towns of Erin and Darien to $100 in Kohler and $300 in Hudson.

Antoine said other communities require fire departments to approve fireworks, but Belgium Fire Chief Dan Birenbaum said his department would not do so.

Village ordinances prohibit fireworks shows.

Trustee Rose Sauers, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said she is comfortable allowing fireworks “but I would need to be ensured that it’s a professional company.”

Irene Buechler said, “We do want to do it the safe way, the proper way.”

During a discussion on determining fees, Antoine said they are not money generators for the village.

The board decided on $20 per event. Village President Pete Anzia and Clerk Julie Lesar were given permission to grant approvals.

Trustee Josh Borden asked that people be notified of fireworks shows through the village’s website and Facebook page.