Olive Branch Mayor Sam Rikard used his veto power Wednesday to overturn a decision by the Board of Aldermen and continue the city's ban on the sale of fireworks.
"I feel strongly that the prohibition of the sale, use or possession of fireworks within the Olive Branch city limits should remain in place," Rikard said.
Aldermen voted 4-1 on Nov. 3 to overturn a 2007 city ordinance banning the sale of fireworks, which cannot be used in the city limits, and Rikard could not veto the board's decision until the minutes of the Nov. 3 meeting were approved at Tuesday night's board meeting.
"As I stated a couple of years ago when the board made the decision to ban fireworks, they are a nuisance, cause litter and can be a safety hazard," Rikard said. "Furthermore, the sale of a prohibited product makes no sense to me at all."
This was the second time Rikard has used his veto to ban fireworks sales in Olive Branch.
In 2007, aldermen voted to ban the use of fireworks in Olive Branch but voted 4-3 to allow their sale before Rikard used his veto to ban sales as well.
Aldermen can override Rikard's veto as soon as their next meeting on Dec. 1.
It would take at least five votes from the city's seven aldermen to override the veto.
Aldermen Harold Henderson, Don Tullos, Pat Hamilton and George Collins all voted to allow the sale of fireworks Nov. 3.
Aldermen Susan Johnson recused herself from the vote and Maurice Wallace, who voted in favor of fireworks sales in 2007, was not in attendance.
Wallace is experiencing some health problems and is not expected to be at the next board meeting.
Ward 6 Aldermen Dale Dickerson voted against the sale of fireworks in 2007 and 2009 and said he'll continue to support the sales ban if there is an attempt to override the veto.
"Originally when this came up, I got a lot of calls and the people of my ward were overwhelmingly against it," Dickerson said.
Dickerson added that after the most recent vote, Rikard told him all the calls he received supporting the sales ban were from Ward 6.
"I may be the lone aldermen against it, but I feel I have to represent the wishes of my constituents and my ward is overwhelmingly against the sale of fireworks," Dickerson said.
Dale Wilson, owner of American Fireworks, said the veto was the act of a mayor who doesn't understand business.
"Rather than micro-managing the police and fire departments to find ways to squeeze a few dollars out of the budget, it would be wise for the mayor to try and recruit some businesses to Olive Branch instead of running small businesses out of the city."
Wilson said that not only have two different boards approved fireworks sales in the city, its citizens vote every year by supporting his fireworks stores around DeSoto County.
"If people vote to not come and buy fireworks, that means I'm out of business," Wilson said. "There must be a reason I've been in business 40 years."