Island County continues to inch toward creating an ordinance that would let it ban fireworks in unincorporated areas under dry conditions.

During their regular work session Wednesday, May 18, the Island County commissioners agreed to set a date for a public hearing on the new law, probably June 14.

Among other things, the proposed law would let the county sheriff, in his role as fire marshal, bar fireworks automatically through imposition of a Type II burn ban.

The commissioners have struggled over how and whether to define conditions appropriate for such a ban, resulting in a delay last month in enacting the law. But on Wednesday, they appeared to have resolved the issue.

Even if the ordinance is enacted next month, it won’t take effect until the 2018 fireworks season because of a one-year delay mandated by state law. That delay caused consternation last summer when the county found itself unable to bar fireworks during an unusually hot, dry July, despite a burn ban in place.

At the state level, House Bill 2348 this past session would have eliminated the one-year delay, letting counties and other governments impose restrictions that take effect in 30 days or less.

It failed to pass.