City may put more pop in July 4 fireworks

Mayor asks council to improve or eliminate annual sky show

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in Chief

The thought of a Fourth of July celebration without fireworks was too much for several aldermen who on Tuesday encouraged their counterparts to double the amount of money the city spends on its Independence Day display.

“It’s Americana – I can’t imagine having Fourth of July without fireworks,” Alderman Tom Vos said as the City Council debated the merits of the annual expense.

His comments came after Aldermen Katie Simenson and Steve Rauch wondered out loud whether the city should drop the expense.

“I’m not a big fan of municipalities paying for it,” Rauch said, presumably so a private sponsor would step up. “So I’d say eliminate (the expense).”

The question then arose that if the city didn’t pay for it, who would?

The discussion came at the request of Mayor Bob Miller, who said he was “torn between cancelling the fireworks and asking the council to pay more.”

Miller said the city has contributed $5,000 and no more for each of the 15 years he’s been involved with city government.  “That’s doesn’t buy much of a display these days,” he said, noting he’s heard disparaging comments about the city’s relatively meager show from people at the event.

The annual display is held in conjunction with the city Fire Department dance at Echo Park. The dance is the department’s major fundraiser and there’s no telling what impact the lack of a fireworks show could have on the event.

Miller attempted to appeal to city residences and businesses to donate to a fireworks fund late last year. The result? According to city Budget Director Steve DeQuaker: two donations totaling $17.50.

Miller said the city’s July 4 display pales in comparison to the $25,000 ChocolateFest fireworks show that is underwritten by Runzheimer and held over the Memorial Day weekend.

Simenson said it would be difficult for the city to attempt to keep up with ChocolateFest.

“Do we have to ‘wow’ them?” she asked. “Where does it end?”

But Alderman Jeff Fischer said the fireworks are one of the few city services residents genuinely appreciate.

“It’s a tangible thing they see that the city does for them,” he said.

Reasoning that the display is worth at least $1 per resident, the council asked city staff to prepare a resolution for consideration at a future meeting that would increase the city’s fireworks budget from $5,000 to $10,000.