Sallisaw City Commissioners directed City Attorney John Robert Montgomery to draft an ordinance allowing for the discharge of fireworks on Nov. 7 for Hindu Diwali, or Festival of Lights, the celebration of the light over darkness.
The request was made by Mrs. Hina Patel. She explained to the commissioners that seven families in the city will celebrate the week-long holiday, and in the past have discharged the fireworks at the motel near the intersection of Cherokee and Kerr Boulevard, with the approval of the city manager.
Sallisaw city ordinances only allow for fireworks for the July 4 holiday. The fireworks for Diwali will be set off from 9 to 10 p.m. at the motel at 1700 W. Cherokee. The ordinance for the Diwali celebration will be presented at the city commission's Nov. 9 meeting, after the requested day, and the commission gave permission for the Nov. 7 fireworks, weather permitting. Those discharging the fireworks must check with Fire Chief Anthony Armstrong before the celebration to determine if the weather is suitable.
Commissioners also approved a March 1 election date for the Ward 1 and 3 commission posts, both three-year terms. The filing period for the election will be Dec. 7 through 9. Ronnie Lowe is the current Ward 1 commissioner and Julian Mendoza is the Ward 3 commissioner.
Ward 4 Commissioner Daryl Legg asked if the city had any ordinance to require the owners of downtown businesses to keep buildings up to date and to city code. He suggested the city manager visit other towns and cities about how unused buildings in the downtown area be kept up to date. Montgomery and other city commissioners replied the only way to promote the upkeep of downtown buildings was through the city codes and declaring a building to be dilapidated if necessary.
Assistant City Manager Keith Skelton reported the expanded DiamondNet wireless Internet has 55 subscribers in Marble City and the nearby rural area.
He announced the requests for proposals to expand DiamondNet television station to 24 hours will soon be sent out. Also the service Watch TV Everywhere, which allows the television broadcasting to be downloaded to smart devices, will be available within the next two weeks. The service is free to DiamondNet subscribers.
The commission utility rate study dates were set for Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 and 12.
Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director
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