Town board approves $22,364 fireworks contract for July 11 celebration after debate over higher costs

The Town Board of the Town of Boyd voted to authorize the supervisor to sign a contract with July 4 Fireworks Inc. for a fireworks display on July 11, 2026 (postponement July 12) at a price of $22,364.50. The contract requires $10 million per-occurrence and aggregate insurance with a primary/non-contributory endorsement and a waiver of subrogation.

Board members pressed for clarity on why the cost rose from last year; one board member said the figure was "significantly higher than last year" and asked whether the events budget could still support Halloween and other annual activities. That board member noted last year’s fireworks costs were about $11,500 plus roughly $5,700 for insurance and asked what alternative bids had been considered. Speakers said two other proposals had been received: a $20,000 bid from Legion Fireworks that included an additional $25,000 insurance charge, and an $18,000 drone show option that could not proceed because the school district had not approved the necessary insurance terms.

Officials said a $1,000 grant from Green County would be applied to the fireworks line, and the insurance portion of the contract was budgeted separately. Finance staff confirmed there is contingency available: "we do have over $140,000 in contingency that we can go and put the money aside to cover other things," the finance staff member said. Board members discussed using contingency or reallocating from recreation funds if necessary; one member requested that the board receive bills and a resolution for any overages after the event rather than pre‑spending uncertain amounts.

In related business, the board approved Resolution B to appropriate $3,500 from contingency (budget line 1990.40) to the events committee budget line 7550.40 to support activities tied to the town’s 250th‑anniversary celebration. A board member said, "I don't think that we need $3,500 to pull off this July event" but the board moved the amendment forward after discussing how the line would operate as an available limit rather than an automatic draw.

The board also established a summer 2026 pilot swim lesson program at Bryant Park using already‑appropriated funds; recreation staff will administer the program and report back on participation, cost and recommendations. The board approved hiring Kai Roer as a summer intern at $17 per hour for up to 200 hours to assist with grant summaries and filing, and approved hiring Rachel Brandon as a summer fund counselor on the recommendation of Recreation Director Franko.

The meeting record shows motions, seconds and calls for votes on each resolution; the transcript records the board calling for the vote on the fireworks contract and related resolutions but does not include a roll‑call tally in the provided text. The board discussed budget mechanics in detail, citing prior issues with large unexpended balances and describing existing reserve accounts for water, sewer, equipment and drainage.

The board’s next steps, as announced in the meeting, were to finalize paperwork with the school district (presenters said school paperwork would be submitted the next day), apply the Green County grant to lower the net cost, and monitor event spending; staff were to return with final numbers or a resolution if an overage occurs.