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Council narrows 250th celebration plans amid cost and sea-turtle concerns over fireworks
Summary
Staff proposed decorations and a sequence of concerts and markets for the town's 250th; council members raised fiscal, crowd-management and environmental concerns about a $25,000 fireworks quote and the additional public-safety costs, and directed staff to explore alternatives, including rescheduling or donating the fireworks to a neighboring display.
Town staff presented a multi-element plan for the Town of Sunset Beach's 250th anniversary that would include bunting, banners and a sequence of community events (markets, concerts, patriotic programs) and asked council direction on fireworks and other ticketed or sponsored add-ons.
The decor package proposed bunting for the gazebo and park, stage framing and a roundabout banner; staff estimated a reduced decor budget of roughly $2,500'$3,000 after removing higher-cost inflatable options and some lighting. Event programming would include a market, a concert series and family activities; staff and the Environmental Resource Committee sought sponsorships to cover giveaways such as plants.
A separate vendor quote to provide a 20-minute waterfront fireworks show was described at $25,000 for the display plus additional police, fire and pier fees. Council members questioned the total town cost when police, fire and pier fees were factored in, discussed the logistics of crowd management and busing for an island pier display, and raised environmental concerns about sea-turtle nesting season, artificial light and ash deposition. Chief (public safety) characterized staging such a display on a holiday weekend as "a big ask" because of scale and staffing requirements.
Council discussed alternatives including moving fireworks to Memorial Day or Labor Day, cancelling and donating or transferring the vendor-purchased fireworks to a neighboring municipality, or relying on nearby community displays that would be visible from town. Staff was directed to follow up with the vendor on options and to explore whether donated fireworks could be coordinated with a nearby community's show so residents could see a display without the town bearing the full operational burden.
What happens next: staff will contact the fireworks vendor and coordinate next steps based on council's direction; additional logistics and environmental reviews will be required before any final decision.
