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Newcastle officials debrief fireworks show amid mixed feedback on volume, trash and safety
Summary
City staff and commissioners reviewed the July fireworks event, praising production and new lighting while discussing complaints about audio levels, trash volumes and staffing during firework safety operations.
Vice Chair Ed Flasch opened a commission discussion on the July fireworks event and asked for feedback on what to “start, stop, continue.” Amy, the city’s events and recreation coordinator, began by thanking volunteers and singling out Commissioner Van Atta for the music selection: “I wanna give a special shout out to commissioner Van Atta who put together a rocking music selection for our fireworks. From the moment I listened to it, I just smiled the entire time.”
The commission discussed several operational items. Commissioners and staff said lighting along exit paths improved safety compared with the prior year. Amy credited the change to public works: she said additional lighting “was their idea for improvement.” Several speakers flagged mixed views about sound: some attendees said the music and announcements were too quiet in places, while others said the volume was too loud. A commissioner suggested exploring drone shows as an alternative to pyrotechnics; that suggestion was discussed but not adopted.
Trash and waste were a prominent operational concern. Amy described two options: more trash receptacles and additional staff to monitor collection. She told the commission that late in the evening most staff “have to go to the fireworks barricade to ensure fire and life safety. And so all trash collection stops then.” Commissioners and volunteers said city crew members and some attendees helped manage trash on-site, but pizza boxes and stacked containers presented a volume issue.
Child safety measures drew praise. One commissioner reported strong positive feedback for wristbands for children, which were used to help reunite lost children with families and to bring visitors back to the city information tent. Commissioners proposed adding a post-event volunteer cleanup the morning after the event.
No formal motions or votes were taken. Amy said she will complete stakeholder debriefs with police, fire, public works and vendors and return to the commission with recommended operational changes for future events.
