Flagler Beach will not have fireworks on the Fourth of July as negotiations fizzle

Flagler Beach will not have fireworks for the Fourth of July after the City Commission on Thursday rejected a contract with the company it had been considering to light up the skies.

But there were some fireworks on the City Commission as Mayor Suzie Johnston said she was requested to sign the fireworks contract earlier in the week, but she did not specify who made the request. She said she was not told that the terms had been changed until she asked.

“The price was increased. The time was reduced,” said Johnston, referring to the cost and duration of the show. “I’m not comfortable and I’m not going to sign a contract that’s been modified and not told.”

Johnston said she would not sign the contract on principle although the City Commission could if it wished.

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Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson had said the show would be 19 to 20 minutes long, which is about the same amount of time as past shows.  The city had expected to pay $24,000 to Ryan Allen, president of North Florida Pyrotechnics in Green Cove Springs.

In an interview with the News-Journal last week, Allen said he would put on a 19 to 20-minute show for $24,000.

But when the City Commission got the contract this week, Allen proposed a show of 17 minutes for $25,000.

Commissioner Jane Mealy said she still supported hiring Allen as long as he was required to show proof of insurance.

“It’s $1,000 more. It’s three minutes less than we are used to. I don’t know that anybody would even notice that,” Mealy said.

Mealy made a motion to hire Allen but there was no second.

“Ok, seeing none, the motion dies and that means that we will not have any fireworks,” said Commission Chair Ken Bryan.

There was no discussion about trying to find another fireworks vendor with less than a month before July Fourth.

Fireworks show a Flagler Beach tradition

The fireworks show on Flagler Beach has traditionally drawn thousands, packing the beach and businesses.

Flagler Beach had objected earlier this year when Palm Coast initially planned to change the date on its fireworks show to July Fourth. The Sheriff’s Office was also alarmed and warned it would be stretched thin to cover two fireworks show about five miles apart on the same night.

Palm Coast backed off and scheduled its fireworks on July 3 in conjunction with the county at the Flagler Executive Airport.

Now, the sky off Flagler Beach will be devoid of any commercial fireworks show on the Fourth.

It would have been the first show in Flagler Beach since 2019 after COVID-19 shut down fireworks in 2020 and 2021. And the city is unlikely to have a show next year since by then it expects to be in the process of replacing its wooden pier, which serves as the launching pad for the fireworks.

Flagler fireworks dispute over cost, insurance

Flagler County-based Fireworks by Santore in Palm Coast has traditionally provided the fireworks for the Flagler Beach show, but this year Santore was booked by the time Flagler Beach called them in April.

Allen had said on May 9 that he could do a show for $24,000 for Flagler Beach. Then three days later the city manager said Allen decided he needed $60,000 for the show. Allen subsequently settled again on the $24,000 before going up to $25,000 on this latest contract offer.

Whitson said that the price increase was due to fireworks Allen had to acquire from Illinois and rising costs.

“I didn’t see that being a big deal to change the price from 24 to 25,000. I'm sorry if I offended the mayor or this board. But I did not see that as a significant change, so I will take responsibility for that,” Whitson said.

But there was another issue. Allen still had not presented the City Commission on Thursday proof of a $5 million insurance policy.

Whitson pointed out that if Allen did not provide proof of insurance, he would not receive any payment.

The fireworks show is funded by money from the Flagler County Tourist Development Council, which reimburses the city for its cost.

Commission Chairman Bryan said that $1,000 and three minutes was not going to change his mind, and he supported approving the contract with the condition that Allen provide proof of insurance before receiving any money.

“I think the folks of Flagler Beach are entitled to fireworks. They are looking forward to it,” Bryan said.

Bryan said in a phone interview that he didn’t second the motion, because he saw the motion would fail. Bryan said that while he and Mealy would vote for it, Cooley, along with Commissioners James Sherman and Deborah Phillips would vote against it.

Mayor Johnston does not vote, although she does have veto power.

“What is the point in even prolonging this with the vote?” Bryan said. “There's no point of putting salt on the wound. It’s all over.”

“I think the folks of Flagler Beach are entitled to fireworks. They are looking forward to it,” Bryan said.

Commissioner Eric Cooley referred to a comment by Allen in the News-Journal in which Allen said the show would be dramatically different than past shows.

“To me that’s a huge red flag,” Cooley said. “This is not the guy.”

“It is going to be a waste of our taxpayer’s money to do business with this guy,” Cooley said. “That is my opinion and my prediction.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: No Fourth of July fireworks from Flagler Beach after contract rejected