Council approves two fireworks shows at Dot Count Stadium with safety conditions

The Common Council approved a temporary use permit allowing two fireworks displays at Dot Count Stadium in 2026, subject to standard safety conditions and agency review.

Why it matters: The permits authorize large public shows tied to stadium events while preserving city oversight on safety conditions (fire district approval, wind limits and cancellation authority).

Planning staff noted the displays were included as a conditional use element in the stadium’s permit, but council must still approve temporary use permits. Jason Gallo summarized the standard conditions and asked whether council wanted to amend the underlying CUP so the organizer would not need to return each year; the mayor said any amendment to the CUP would require a separate process.

Matt Sockle, owner of the display company, described typical runs of five to seven minutes and said the shows had not gone past 9:30 p.m. ‘‘We haven’t gone past 09:30 on any of them,’’ Sockle said, adding that the operator will adhere to DNR, fire and city safety protocols and considers wind direction and fallout zones when deciding to delay or cancel a shoot.

Council members raised questions about potential roadway and interstate effects. City fire and police staff reported they had observed prior shows from highway vantage points and that safety protocols (distance, fallout zones and the option to cancel for burn bans or high winds) were in place. Chief Pfister and Chief Bowen said the launches can be canceled if conditions pose a hazard.

Council voted on the temporary-use motion and approved the two displays for 2026; roll call showed unanimous support.

Permits remain subject to the city’s fireworks-permit procedure and to operational checks by the fire department prior to each show.