By Terry Witt- Spotlight Senior Reporter
The July 4th fireworks in Bronson is officially cancelled.
Bronson Town Council members decided Monday night to call off the holiday event when Fire Chief Dennis said only four of his 14 firefighters would commit to shooting off the fireworks.
He said it’s not like the old days when firefighters from his department gave up time with their families on the Fourth of July to work on the fireworks show at James H. Cobb Park.
Russell said the younger firefighters don’t like the danger either.
“A lot of the younger ones don’t want to do it because it’s so dangerous and I can’t blame them. We’re asking them to do it for nothing and go out there and there’s a chance of an explosion,” Russell said.
Russell said when he talked to Public Works Director Curtis Stacy and found out Stacy has a similar problem. Stacy has a small group of young people working for him who probably don’t want to work on the holiday.
Stacy said he has five employees and that are young and probably want to spend the Fourth with their families instead of working at the park.
“It’s technically a day off, a holiday for them,” he said. “You are asking them to work when they may want to go out of town with their families. It’s something we need to think about. Are we going to have event staff to come out and do it so we’re not depending on the fire department… so we’re not depending on staff? I think the days when staff is able to do different events is pretty much gone.”
Councilman Jason Hunt said the council has talked about hiring event staff to handle the fireworks show in the past but the discussions never led to a decision.
Russell said the fireworks company he and Hunt were talking about would charge a minimum of $20,000 for a show. He said the City of Archer is paying $10,000 for professional event staff to handle the show. Bronson at one point had talked about sharing the expense of Archer’s fireworks and making it a combined show for both communities but the idea never bore fruit.
Town Manager Sue Beaudet wondered if she should begin planning for next year’s Fourth of July by setting aside $10,000 for a show.
Councilwoman Sherrie Schuler said if a future fireworks show is held in Bronson, it should be more than just fireworks.
“If we’re going to do something it needs to be a whole event,” Schuler said.
Russell volunteered to form a committee to explore options for holding future fireworks shows in Bronson.
The most recent fireworks display in Bronson took place on Veterans Day last year but the crowd was small. The fireworks had been held over from the previous year when concerns about COVID resulted in cancellation.
But this year’s fireworks show isn’t going to happen, and the town may never again use local firefighters to do the show.
Putting Vandals to Work
Schuler asked if anyone on the council knew whether the juveniles who recently vandalized a bathroom at James H. Cobb Park could be required to do community service work at the park. They were arrested.
No one was certain where the case stood at this point, but all were in agreement that the town should inquire about the status of the criminal case and find out if community service work at the park is an option.
The juveniles were identified by reviewing photographs from a hidden camera that showed the juveniles coming out of the bathroom.
Purchasing Electronic Marquees
The council is considering the purchase of an electronic marquee sign similar to what First Baptist Church installed along U.S. 27A in Bronson, but the price tag could be more than $25,000.
Resident Elijah Williams said the old marquee sign in front of the Dogan Cobb Municipal Building is dangerous. Williams said Stacy has to climb up a ladder to attach the plastic letters and numbers to the sign.
An electronic marquee would allow the town to announce events to motorists passing by the municipal building. The town wouldn’t have the problem of the letters blowing off the marquee in high winds.
Russell is planning to purchase an electronic marquee sign for the front of the new fire station on U.S. 27A on the north end of town. The cost of the marquee itself is $25,700. The vendor also wants $10,000 for installation.
The fire chief said his department would pay the cost of the marquee from grant money used to build the fire station, but he thinks the installation charge is too steep.
The town council will have to decide whether it wants to purchase the downtown marquee. Russell said he was told the marquee in front of the Baptist Church cost $28,000.
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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting May 16, 2022; Posted May 16, 2022
