In the wake of another amateur-fireworks-filled Fourth of July in Mandan, the City Commission is considering ways to prevent fireworks abuses in the future.

Their consideration comes after a Tuesday night meeting, during which a handful of Mandan residents showed up to complain.

Speaking before the Commission, resident David Kroll brought in a plastic grocery bag full of the fireworks that landed in his yard and on his roof. Kroll's collection included large black plastic fins, a paper-wrapped red explosive on a wooden stick and a blackened cone wrapped in green paper.

"This missed (my wife's) head by about four feet and landed nearby," he said, holding the green cone up for commissioners to see.

Mandan Police Chief Dennis Bullinger said his department was down four officers and faced more serious criminal matters on the night of the Fourth of July. Thus, fireworks complaints "fell to the bottom of the list," he said.

Mandan currently allows residents to shoot off fireworks between July 1 and July 5, but not after 11 p.m. Bismarck does not allow fireworks.

At Tuesday night's meeting, complaints centered around fireworks shot after hours, and those that clutter other property. Proposed solutions ranged from a temporary upsurge in security staff around the holiday, to citations that would actually force people to go to court, to a total ban of fireworks.

Mayor Tim Helbing said he thought trying to solve these problems by totally banning fireworks would be very unpopular.

"The majority of people want Mandan to be a fun town," he said. "They don't want anyone to get hurt, but they want the fireworks to continue."

Commissioners intend to set up a special committee to accomplish their task of finding the solution.

Second thoughts on Longfellow Park

A proposal to name a new park in Mandan after 19th century war hero Richard M. Longfellow is encountering some resistance.

The name, proposed earlier this month for the Mandan park underneath the new Liberty Memorial Bridge, is now being considered against a name that offers broader recognition to all area veterans. It was originally proposed to honor a Medal of Honor winner who helped American forces retake a bridge during the Phillipine Insurection of 1899.

But Longfellow is actually a native of Logan County, Ill. and is buried in his later home in Idaho. He lived in Mandan for a few years in the early 1900s while working as a railroad employee.

Commissioner Thomas Jackson said the comments he's gotten on the naming have all been against it.

"Why would we name it after one veteran who only lived a fraction of his life here vs. something that would honor all veterans?" he said. "Certainly, what Mr. Longfellow did was admirable, but my preference would be to honor all veterans."

Helbing also said he would also like to see something "that is more general and honors more people."

Commissioners decided to table the issue and discuss it at their next meeting.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 250-8264 or jonathan.rivoli@;bismarcktribune.com.)