East Ellijay will no longer allow outside fireworks vendors to temporarily set up shop following a recent vote by its city council.
At the July council meeting, Mayor Mack West said the city had received a letter from the owner of East Ellijay business All-Star Fireworks, which is a licensed, year-round store.
West said the letter from storeowner Scott Lunsford was about “competition moving in on him when he has a city license to sell fireworks.”
City Planner Mack Wood said the fireworks stands normally go up before July Fourth and New Year’s.
“They set up right across the street from the guy who’s been here all year paying taxes. We’ve had this in the past with furniture stores and tents,” Wood said. “I feel like it’s not fair ... to let people come in and steal his business away.”
“It’s not correct to let them operate without a license,” West said.
Wood said he’s been in contact with the county fire marshall about the fireworks stands.
“I’ve talked to him and he said that he would not issue any more permits until he heard from us,” he added.
Councilmembers Don Callihan, Linda Smith and Ed Forrester approved not allowing outside fireworks vendors to set up any more stands in the future.