Byron council amends firearms discharge ordinance

BYRON -- The City Council has passed an amendment to its firearms discharge ordinance.

The amendment made changes about which firearm discharges are acceptable in city limits.

Exceptions include discharging a firearm:

In defense of a person, habitation or other property justifiable under state law;

By an officer in his official duties;

By people engaged in military duties;

With permission of the mayor;

At an indoor commercial shooting range licensed by the city;

At a municipal shooting range;

By an owner or authorized employee of a Byron business licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the manufacture, sale and/or repair of firearms, firearm parts and/or accessories in an area where firing will not result in injury to persons or damage to property.

The first reading of the amendment was in September with passage expected in October. However, the council tabled the issue to change the ordinance to allow a Byron business involved in firearms sales to test them within the city.

The city prohibits all other firearms discharges. This week's vote was unanimous.

Also in its Monday meeting, the council resolved to demolish a building at 100 Richardson St.

The move follows complaints by residents and the failure of the property owner to improve the property after mandates from the city and from the Byron Municipal Court. The courts have found the building unfit for human habitation.

A lien will be placed on the property to recoup money spent by the city to demolish the building, officials said.

In other business, the council:

Adopted an urban redevelopment plan prepared by the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, and appointed Todd Jespersen to the Byron Redevelopment Authority and Mark Waters to the Byron Development Authority;

Annexed property at 320 Peregrine Drive for the purpose of residents obtaining water services;

Received Nov. 3 election results from elections supervisor Betty Sims, which returned Mayor Larry Collins to his post unopposed, Councilman James Richardson to his seat unopposed and saw Rusty Adams elected to the City Council's Post 2. Sims said 261 people voted in the election. There are 3,351 registered voters in the community.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Byron council amends firearms discharge ordinance ."