By Fawn Porter/Staff Writer

Mustang resident William Eriksen is tired of people coming in from outside of Mustang and trashing the community every Fourth of July.

Eriksen told City Council members Tuesday an underlying issue in “this kind of behavior” is alcohol consumption. He said he contacted five area communities, none of which allowed public alcohol consumption as Mustang does, adding Wild Horse Park looks like the “back of … (a) bar” with beer cans littering the premises even though dumpsters are nearby.

“I’m not opposed to beer drinking; I’m not opposed to drinking hard liquor,” he said. “But I think there’s a place for it, and I don’t think city parks” are that place.

If the community wanted to promote a positive image, Eriksen said the city needs to get a handle on their Fourth of July festivities.
Another resident said, when he contacted City Council members, he received “empty excuses” regarding fireworks. He said one City Council Person said police had only received two calls about fireworks.

Police Capt. Willard James said last week the Mustang Police Department responded to over 160 fireworks-related calls.

The resident said Mustang calls itself a “city with a vision” but continues to attract “riffraff” from outside the town who come and drink beer and “trash” the city.

A local woman, who lives on East Linden Lane, said her home backs up to an empty field, now overgrown after recent rains. She said if wayward fireworks ignited a blaze in that field, there would be no time for authorities to respond before the flames reached her home.
However, longtime resident Walt Sirman said he supports fireworks but thinks certain ones should be outlawed, such as rockets.

While shooting off fireworks at his son’s home, Sirman said a rocket came down and hit his 4-year-old grandson’s head, without injury. But the rocket is a “perfect example” of what should not be allowed.

He suggested the city set up a committee to discuss and determine what varieties of fireworks should be allowed.

“Fireworks have been a part of Mustang as long as I’ve lived here,” Sirman said, adding the city’s fireworks laws were one of the reasons the Sirman family bought a home in Mustang.

“The dangers of fireworks, per se, are there, but if handled properly with the proper fireworks, no one’s going to get injured,” he said.

Sirman said the city shouldn’t have a problem with outsiders coming into Mustang, because it adds revenue to the city.

Mayor Jeff Landrith presented a computer video of Mustang on July 4, showing piles of beer containers, a Dumpster fire and fireworks discharges in the community.

The mayor said he isn’t against fireworks but thinks some guidelines are in order to curb excessive debris, influx of nonresidents and drinking in the public park.

The mayor, who turned the meeting over to Vice Mayor Scott Gibson while giving his presentation since the item did not appear on the agenda, suggested the city set up a committee to review the following:

• Ban fireworks in the middle of a public street;
• Fine fireworks users discharging near a moving car in a public street;
• Ban any alcohol in the parks when fireworks are being discharged;
• Enforce and fine those who choose to pop outside of the designated times;
• An immediate no-warning fine policy for littering;
• Ban the import of fireworks from anywhere outside of Mustang, which he said is similar to laws of other communities; and
• Ban fireworks at all public parks and commercial areas unless a permit is issued. He said such permits would be automatically provided to residents and commercial property owners.

“These laws should be passed and enforced. Enforcement includes walking law enforcement in the park, and plenty of friendly and clear signs stating the city’s policy,” he said, adding he will ask for a petition from local businesses and residents who support those proposals and bring it before Council for review.

In other city business, Community Development Director Richard Rolison told Council members his department will update the city’s long-range comprehensive plan. The update is due this year.