Fireworks ban debated
Gallup also wants crackdown on cell use while driving

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — It was fireworks, cell phones, and sewage at the City Council meeting last night. Gallup Fire Chief Robert Soto kicked off the discussion of how to enforce the city’s ban on fireworks. Throughout the summer, he said, the fire department, has to put out several brush fires caused by fireworks, and in at least one case the fire threatened structures. The ban is quite clear.

“You can’t light aerial fireworks in the city,” Soto explained.
The problem is that the ordinance has no penalty. All that can be done other than choosing to ignore it is to seize the prohibited fireworks.

“If we’re going to have an ordinance, let’s have an ordinance with some teeth,” Mayor Harry Mendoza said.

There was even some talk of removing the unenforceable ban altogether. Since a new ordinance that included penalties would not be passed and go into effect until after the July 4 holiday, it was decided to continue further discussion of the matter in future meetings.

Executive Director of Gallup Joint Utilities Lance Allgood covered the city’s efforts to clean up problems at the wastewater treatment plant. The city is looking to hire five temporary employees to help handle some routine tasks, which would free up the supervising technician to handle more important daily matters. In addition, Allgood said the city was putting much-needed attention on equipment repairs and maintenance.

“I think the plant’s on the way to recovery,” Allgood told the mayor and council.

The city also discussed the lack of an ordinance regarding the use of cell phones while driving. People who cause accidents while being distracted by cell phone use can be cited under a careless driving ordinance, but not specifically for talking on a cell phone while driving. The question was raised as to whether or not the city needed a specific ordinance to deal with the problem.

Police Chief Robert Cron said cell phone use was but one issue in a much wider traffic problem.

“We have a lot of inconsiderate drivers,” Cron said.

He recommended against a new ordinance as there was some question of just how effectively it could be enforced.

The city seemed poised to enact a media campaign in hopes of persuading people to hang up and drive. But Councilor Allan Landavazo questioned if a media campaign would have any effect at all.

“Everyone knows they’re not supposed to do it,” he said.

He cited a study from the American Medical Association, which showed a correlation between an increase in the incidence of accidents and cell phone use. The increase was found before and after accidents. This indicates that cell phone use may cause more accidents.

The mayor and council agreed to take up the matter again at another meeting when Councilor John Azua and Councilor Bill Nechero were in attendance. The two councilors were not available to attend last night’s meeting.