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City of Atlantic looks to contract with a non-local fireworks vendor

News

September 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, gave permission for City Administrator John Lund to book a fireworks show for July 4, 2022. Previously, the Personnel and Finance Committee had discussed offers from two local vendors, with the desire, regardless of which company was chosen, to have a “Mind blowing fireworks.” Lund said “While there is a desire to support local business, it’s going to be very difficult to chose between two companies.”

He said the company that have previously performed a fireworks show at the Atlantic Municipal Airport – Viking Pyrotechnics, Inc., out of Shannon City, Iowa – has the required Class-B license.

The City received complaints about the fireworks display this past July, saying the show was too short and didn’t have the “Wow” factor. J &M Displays, the company that put on the show offered to give the community a free show (Valued at $6,000) in 2022, but the display would have been held July 2nd instead of July 4th. Mayor Dave Jones said people in other communities he’s spoken with also experienced a brief fireworks display this year.

Lund said Viking Pyrotechnics has the Fourth of July open, for now, but they need to know soon if the City wants to book that date. The only other thing he needed to know, is if the Council wants to stick with the $6,000 price tag for fireworks, or spend a little more, like the benchmark Exira Fireworks Show that’s put on. It was the consensus of the Council, that the City spend up to $10,000 for a 20-minute show, and that Lund show arrange with Viking to make it possible.