HARROGATE, Tenn. - Those vendors who are selling fireworks under tents have been cited into court in Harrogate for violation of a city ordinance.

The Fourth of July holiday always brings seasonal vendors out. However, as expressed in a recent Harrogate city council meeting, local business owners who have their seasonal sales in permanent structures are upset that out of state vendors are coming in and setting up shop, making the money, and then leaving town.

One local businessman, who asked to remain anonymous at the last council meeting, said he had cancelled his tents this year because the city board had agreed to enforce the tent ordinance and now feels he is at a disadvantage.

However, just over a week ago, tents starting popping up in Harrogate.

The ordinance on the books for the city states "tents can be used by a person, firm, corporation, or group as an assembly occupancy for the purpose of a religious meeting, festival, fair, circus, or carnival for a limited time, not to exceed 30 days with proper permit procedure followed; additional permits may be granted for up to 90 days in one calendar year."

The ordinance goes on to say that tents, or temporary buildings, can be used to sell fresh produce locally grown in Claiborne County during the growing season or Christmas trees during the holiday season.

"We have cited them into court, and now, it is up to the judge," said Mayor Bill Fultz on Tuesday.

Floyd North, who owns one of only two local shops that sell fireworks in Harrogate, told WATE-TV Knoxville news reporters that temporary vendors are bad for the community.

"The tent owners come in from out of state. They bring their products with them and they take the money out of state with them when they leave. We as local people spend our money here," he told reporters.

Linda Stephens, a temporary vendor from Arkansas, said there are exceptions to the ordinance.

"It does say Christmas trees are allowed to be sold from tents. In my opinion, that is a seasonal product just like fireworks are seasonal. If it's okay for one, it should be okay for both," Stephens told WATE reporters.

Fultz and the rest of the city council have all agreed they need to come up with some type of firework ordinance to keep out-of-town vendors from coming to set up shop, but for now, they are intending to enforce the current ordinance on the books, which was established in 1997 by the city.

Those vendors who have been cited are scheduled to appear in court today in Claiborne County.