The city of Hays and Ellis County are at odds over the sale and use of fireworks this summer in the midst of persistent drought.

Hays city commissioners voted Thursday to prohibit the sale and use of fireworks in the city for 2013.

The Hays Daily News reports that Ellis County commissioners, however, passed an ordinance earlier in the week that allows the sale of fireworks in the county. County commissioners left the decision of whether to allow fireworks to be discharged in rural areas in Ellis County up to Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus.

City Manager Toby Dougherty says persistent drought conditions led city staff to recommend banning fireworks. The city lags a couple of inches below its average precipitation level for the year.

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(Information from: The Hays Daily News, http://www.hdnews.net)