WBR Parish president puts limits on fireworks

• By EMILY HOLDEN
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Jun 26, 2009 - Page: 3B

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PORT ALLEN — Parish President Riley “Peewee” Berthelot on Thursday issued a 15-day ban on projectile fireworks in unincorporated areas of West Baton Rouge Parish.

The ban prohibits the use of bottle rockets and Roman candles. Berthelot said regular fireworks will be permitted in unincorporated areas until July 5, when the authorized time period to sell and use fireworks ends.

Berthelot said he drafted the executive order, approved by the Parish Council on Thursday, in response to the state fire marshal’s ban on private burning.

Berthelot said in a press release that it is “imperative” citizens comply with the order in light of recent droughtlike conditions. The order may be rescinded if the parish receives rainfall, Berthelot said.

Berthelot said residents of Brusly and Port Allen should comply with standing firework bans. He said officials of the incorporated community of Addis plan to address a similar ban next week. 

In other business, the Parish Council turned down a request from Thomas Griffin Jr. to rezone two lots on Maple Street from residential to commercial in order to reopen a bar Griffin said he has owned since the early 1960s.

The property was never zoned as commercial in the 1970s, when the parish went through a major rezoning process. Instead, Griffin and other owners of businesses in residential areas were given special permission to continue operating on residential lots.

When these businesses close for more than six months, the parish government requires them to apply for rezoning in order to reopen, Parish Council Clerk Sharon Zito said.

Griffin said the bar closed in December 2008 and he planned to lease the bar to Vicky Honore, of Baton Rouge. Honore was not present at the meeting.

Griffin said he received signatures from every resident within 500 feet of the property.

But council member Alethea Johnson said she received complaints from residents in her district who do not want Griffin to reopen the bar.

Johnson said she is concerned about Griffin leasing the bar to a third party who has not had personal contact with area residents. She said Honore should have been present at the council meeting.