UPDATE 7-16-11
A ban on outdoor burning remains in effect for Franklin County. Unless called off early by the Franklin County Commissioners Court the ban on outdoor burning is scheduled to remain in effect until Sept. 25, 2011. The local county is one of 246 of Texas' 254 counties under a burning ban. A violation of the ban on outdoor burning under the disaster declaration is punishable by a fine up to $1000 and 180 days in jail.
UPDATE 7-1-11 3 P.M.
Texas Governor Rick Perry signed an order extending the Franklin County Disaster Declaration and ban on all private fireworks sale and use through the morning of Tuesday, July 5. The latest Disaster Declaration does allow the annual fireworks show over Lake Cypress Springs at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2.
UPDATE 6-29-11 4:50 P.M.
An amendment to the Franklin County Emergency Management Plan (EMP) was approved by members of the commissioners court in an emergency meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. The amendment added a penalty section to the management plan making violation of the plan a punishable offense. Violation of either the ban on fireworks or outdoor burning is now punishable by a fine up to $1000 and 180 days in jail.
"We needed to amend the EMP to add this provision so that law enforcement is better able to enforce the ban on fireworks and outdoor burning," said county attorney Will Ramsay.
UPDATE 6-29-11 3 p.m.
The newly issued declaration of disaster for Franklin County was received and recorded by the county clerk's office at 2:43 p.m. today, Wednesday, June 29. As previously announced, the declaration supersedes the previous declaration and will allow the annual state licensed fireworks show over Lake Cypress Springs to be conducted Saturday, July 2.
The general ban on both the sale and use of all other fireworks remains in effect. The governor has up to 60 hours in which to extend the ban. The governor is expected to again issue an extension through July 5.
Watch this web site for updates and see the June 30 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for further details.
UPDATE 6-29-11 12/noon
County Judge Paul Lovier stated he would issue a new emergency disaster declaration to allow the annual state licensed fireworks display over Lake Cypress Springs to take place. "It was not my intent to ban the commercial display at the lake," Judge Lovier said.
He indicated that the new declaration would still not allow the sale or use of fireworks in Franklin County by private individuals. A copy of that declaration has not yet been received for posting by the Franklin County Clerk's office.
Watch this web site for updates and see the June 30 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for further details.
UPDATE 6-27-11
The Franklin County Commissioner's Court extended the existing burn ban for 90 days during their regular meeting. In an emergency meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, June 27, they extended the ban on the use and sale of all fireworks in the county through July 5. They have requested County Judge Paul Lovier to issue a less restrictive declaration. Terms of that are pending.
Watch this web site for updates and see the June 30 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for further details.
ORIGINAL 6-21-11
Governor Rick Perry signed an extension of the restrictions issued in a local emergency disaster declaration by the county judge. The authorization was signed Thursday and extends the terms of the local declaration through July 5. Franklin County Judge Paul Lovier issued the local declaration effective 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 22. It became effective immediately upon the signing. Included in the declaration was a ban on the sale and use of fireworks of all types by the general public.
“This will not include the professionally done fireworks show done over the lake [Lake Cypress Springs, July 2],” stressed Judge Lovier.
See the June 23 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for more details.
