Trustees approve July 4, 2026 fireworks contract; video/AV component tabled for later review

WELLINGTON, Colo. ' The Board of Trustees voted Aug. 26 to approve a contract with Bee Lake Productions LLC to provide the town's July 4, 2026 fireworks show, while temporarily removing the video/audiovisual package from the agreement and asking staff to return with lower-cost options. Deputy Town Administrator Kelly Huddling presented three competitive quotes and recommended Bee Lake Productions, which has provided the town's fireworks in past years. Huddling and the vendor described options that included a full new video production for the town's 250th-anniversary observance, a lower-cost update of the prior video, and rental or use of the town's smaller movie screen. Vendor representative Brian Orlick told the board that the large screen quoted is 40 feet by 20 feet; the town's own inflatable screen used for movies is about 20 by 11 feet and would be materially smaller. Orlick said the contract for screen and sound is typically secured in January with a deposit due by April 1, and that some contract costs and logistics (staffing the larger AV footprint) made using the vendor's integrated package operationally simpler for the town on its busiest day of the year. Trustees discussed the video production's cost and public feedback. Some trustees and members of the public criticized the video's production value relative to its price, suggested options such as community-submitted videos or owning in-house footage, and asked whether the town could use its own screen and audio equipment to save money. Trustees also discussed adding a modest ground display or other augmentations for the town's 250th observance. After debate, the board voted to approve the fireworks contract but to exclude the video/AV presentation option from the contract and to direct staff to return with lower-cost AV/screen alternatives and refined costs for any 250th-anniversary add-ons. The board asked staff to present options in time for budget planning; staff noted deposit deadlines the vendor identified and said they would return with firm cost figures.