The effort to put the county’s fireworks ban ordinance up for a vote has cleared the county’s required legal review, and enters into the signature-gathering phase as Referendum 2008-2.

Its sponsor, Fireworks Unrestricted, has until Dec. 4 to come up with the signatures of 1,522 registered voters to place the measure on the November 2009 general election ballot. “The ink is barely dry. Milene Henley, San Juan County Auditor, approved the form on Wednesday, and they have just come back fresh from the printer,” said referendum sponsor Don Burkhart. “I’m encouraged. We stood in Eastsound this morning and filled up our first sheet in under ten minutes.”

Burkhart said that Fireworks Unrestricted is planning a big push for signatures during the upcoming County fair on August 13 to 16. They have rented a booth at the fair, and will be a constant presence during those four days.