St. Charles and unincorporated St. Charles County are among the few jurisdictions in the county in which fireworks sales and usage is allowed for the Fourth of July season.

St. Charles will allow the shooting of firecrackers and various other items next Friday and Saturday (July 3-4) from 12 noon to 11 p.m. The county allows fireworks use for four days in unincorporated areas - from Thursday through Sunday (July 2-July 5) - from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Thursday (June 25) was the kickoff day for fireworks sales in both St. Charles and unincorporated areas. Sales can continue through July 5 in the city and through July 6 in the county.

Most other cities in St. Charles County ban both fireworks sales and usage. So does the city of St. Louis and all of St. Louis County.

Meanwhile, O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy has vetoed a City Council-passed change in the process for issuing city permits for organized fireworks displays at parks and other public places. Such displays are  exceptions to the general O’Fallon ban on fireworks use.

The vetoed measure would have required applicants to first get approval from their homeowners association or subdivision board and to provide information to the city on the training, experience and other qualifications of individuals putting on the display.

The O’Fallon ordinance which remains in effect says only that the mayor or city administrator can issue permits for public displays to “competent persons.”

Hennessy had introduced the bill because he wanted additional safeguards for such displays. “I just wanted somebody else’s eyes” looking into an application besides the mayor and administrator, he said.

But Hennessy had wanted wording requiring a permit applicant to also get advance approval from the area’s fire protection district. After the council last month amended the bill to remove fire district involvement, Hennessy said, he decided to veto the legislation.

“At the very least, I believe that the opinions of the fire marshal and the regulations and concerns of the fire district should be carefully considered” before changes are made, Hennessy said in his veto message at Thursday’s council meeting. The council then voted to uphold his veto.

Fire districts already are required by state law to inspect and authorize public displays of larger-scale “commercial” fireworks, said Scott Avery, a spokesman for the O’Fallon Fire Protection District.