City of Elkhorn renews fireworks with J&M Displays
By Kellen Olshefski
The City of Elkhorn Common Council recently voted in favor of both a one-year contract and a new three-year contract with J&M Displays for the annual July 4 fireworks show held at Sunset Park.
The new contract comes on the heels of the completion of a previous three-year contract with J&M Displays, which the City selected after being disappointed with a previous display from other vendors.
For this year’s fireworks, the City has agreed to a total cost of $11,865 for the show, which if paid by April 24 of next year, will include an additional 8 percent of fireworks for free. Additionally, when paired with the three-year contract renewal, the City will also receive an additional 15 percent of the dollar value in fireworks free for each of those three years.
Following tradition in Elkhorn, this year’s fireworks display will be held at dusk on the Friday before the July 4 holiday, July 3.
Under the three-year contract extension, the City will receive the 15 percent bonus each of the three years, as well as the 8 percent bonus if payment and paperwork is received by J&M Displays at least 70 days before the annual show.
The contract also states that the City will purchase fireworks exclusively from J&M Displays, but the City is not obligated to purchase fireworks any of the three years. However, this does mean if the City were to choose not to purchase fireworks any of those years, it would not be able to purchase fireworks from another vendor.
Each year following the fireworks display, the City will also have a 30-day timeline in which it could choose to terminate the three-year contract.
“We’ve had no issues this company,” City Administrator James Heilman said during the recent discussion.
City Attorney Ward Phillps also noted that the contract seems to be very favorable for the City, and contains language that also protects the City.
A motion to approve the contract for 2020 and the three-year extension was approved 6-0.
