Mayor Crystal Dingler apologized publicly on Monday for the city’s lack of notice two months when a private fireworks show at Oyhut Bay sparked complaints the event disrupted the surrounding community and caused citizens to question the policy that allowed it to happen on the heels of a burn ban.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions internally about fireworks and what went wrong with the last thing,” Dingler said.

On Sept. 22, Oyhut Bay hosted Jake’s Fireworks for a private party displaying their products to current and potential customers, something that had previously been permitted at the Ocean Shores Airport in past years.

“I truly apologize to anyone who was harmed in any way or felt that their animals had problems,” Dingler said. “And we didn’t give sufficient notice, or in fact any notice at all. It was very upsetting to a lot of people.”

Dingler said the solution is to add a clause in the permit that will require public notification.

“This time, I don’t think it was the city’s fault. I don’t think it was anybody’s fault. But we didn’t have that requirement so that you had to notify people. We will make that happen next time.”