Officials cautious on July 4 event
JANESVILLE — Janesville's Odd Fellows met Wednesday night to discuss their losses and consider the future of planning Fourth of July events.
One organizer reported Wednesday the group lost $13,000 due to low donations at the three-day celebration last weekend.
City council members were cautious about the idea that the city should take a greater role in the Fourth of July celebration if the Odd Fellows cannot continue.
Janesville is already dealing with a $1.8 million deficit, said council member Frank Perrotto.
"I think we could probably take the money (to host an event) and use it better," he said.
The celebration does not have a profitable track record for organizers, said council member Russ Steeber.
"Not to diminish what the Odd Fellows or Jaycees were trying to do, but that fireworks program and July Fourth event has always struggled," he said.
"I just don't know if the city would want to venture into that especially with so many other economic challenges facing us right now."
The city and its taxpayers support the weekend celebration by providing staff from the parks and police department, council president Bill Truman said.
"The city already does quite a bit when you start talking about those personnel," Truman said. "It's a good cost to us since the holiday is overtime pay."
None of the council members had estimates on how much the city paid in salary to employees working during the weekend and the city's finance office could not be reached late Wednesday.
Ultimately the council will have to evaluate what Janesville residents want to spend their tax dollars on, said council member Yuri Rashkin.
"It's a matter of priorities," he said. "If fireworks are important to the community, if a celebration is, then we need to be able to think outside the box."
Rashkin suggested combining with the city of Beloit to put on a show for the holiday.
Several council members said Freedom Fest, held the weekend before and run by the New Life Assembly of God church in Janesville, could draw people away.
But combining the events is unlikely, said Todd Pope, senior associate at the church. The church never intended to compete with the city and intentionally holds Freedom Fest the weekend before the Fourth, he said.
"There are some value difference between the two events, for example we won't have alcohol at our event," Pope said.
The church hosted "probably the largest crowd we've ever had" at this year's, but there is no count of exactly how many attended, Pope said.
Jul 10, 2009 at 3:18 p.m.
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The City was quick to offer money to GMC I do not know how I feel about the Fireworks but if the city wants to do something good for the community why not help with it.
Jul 10, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.
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""I just don't know if the city would want to venture into that especially with so many other economic challenges facing us right now."
funny they want to spend money on many other things that are proven NOT to make any money but only lose money- ice rink, museum
Jul 10, 2009 at 11:42 a.m.
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whoanellie: Today is a "red letter day" ... the two of us actually agree on something!!!
Jul 10, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.
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Get rid of everything but the fireworks and hold them at Traxler. that is the answer! there are so many other big cities that have huge celebrations, such as Madison, that who would want to be here? but we do have a good turnout for the fireworks. Simple I know, but true!
Jul 9, 2009 at 10:37 p.m.
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Excuse me, but the Fourth of July fireworks and celebration were never supposed to be a "profitable" event. It is, plain and simple, a celebration of our nation's birthday for the community.
I grew up in Janesville (born in the 40's), and always was aware of the celebration as being sponsored by one organization or another (usually the Jaycees) and supported by donations. It was what it was, based on what would be collected. The notion of having a carnival, Aqua Jays show, live entertainment, even a beer tent, were latter-day ideas that are not essential to this occasion.
Further, it's a mistake to gauge the popularity of - or support for - this event in terms of the number of people who actually visit the site and/or spend money there. The vast majority of people who benefit from this event never set foot on the show grounds themselves, and they never have been. Rather, far more people simply view the fireworks from wherever they can gain a vantage point than venture into the immediate venue, whether it was Monterrey, Traxler, or the Sports Complex. That does not diminish the significance or value of this celebration as a traditional community event.
The Fourth of July celebration - and the fireworks in particular - are a venerable tradition for our city and for most others. Again, this was never meant to be a "commercial" success.
IMHO, Traxler and Monterrey were better venues for the fireworks, and I hope flood conditions will allow a return to one or the other. At Traxler, access (and simple exit) was easier from the surrounding neighborhoods than from those surrounding the Sports Complex. A quick in-and-out is important to most viewers. The on-site events are much less so.
I hope this whole thing will be put in its proper perspective, and that a fireworks show - at the least - will always continue as the essential ingredient of the Independence Day event.
Jul 9, 2009 at 10:21 p.m.
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It sounds like the public doesn't really care about the fireworks/4th celebration & there isn't money to do it so cancel it. Let Freedom Fest do their thing & go if you want or don't. Watch their fireworks for free or another communities' nearby. Works for us.
Jul 9, 2009 at 6:10 p.m.
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I've got an idea, and it's quite flippant. Why don't we all just set off fireworks that fly high into the sky that night (and only that night). It's already being done by so many of our neighbors. We won't have to walk to Traxler or drive to the SC to see the fireworks, we'll be under them...just like we were when driving home from the SC on the 4th, as the sparks fell onto our car. By doing it only on a specific evening, maybe we can get some sleep the rest of the nights -- and the dogs won't hide under the beds -- as during this currently extended firework season. Problem solved. The "me" generation will most certainly find this appealing.
The City of J won't have to pay for extra park staff (not so sure about police and fire).
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Ok, not so flippant now: We know that when things are tough (economically), many schools give up art, music, languages, etc., to support sports. Why? Sports are a source of revenue.
Some schools don't dump all these disciplines/after school activities. They thoughtfully decide what their community really needs -- and it's not always money driven.
What do we (as a community) lose when we give up the "finer" things -- like community traditions. (I bet if the Packers were coming to town, someone/group would find a way to fire off fireworks. It's not about "fireworks", its about who wants to pay for traditions.)
What does a town become when it gives up some of the "finer" things? What does its citizenship begin to lose when only the most basic functions are taken care of by its leaders? ("Leaders" here does not only mean elected or appointed, but community leaders of any ilk.)
This discussion isn't only about the 4th of July and the Odd Fellows (and Jaycees).
It's not about liquor (currently used to raise revenue for adults, like the high school's sport teams do for school districts in the analogy above). (Why on earth is liquor so prevalent in this state's society, anyway? I've never gotten used to being at all public events since I moved here decades ago. But, that's a whole different forum topic!)
It's not that one church won't collaborate with other parts of the community because of values. The community has values. It just needs to decide what ones they value the most.
It's about a dysfunctional community as a whole that's going thru growing pains, trying to figure out what it wants to be now that it's forced to be an adolescent again. (Many cities/states around the nation are in this same economic pickle.)
It's in its second childhood. It must discern as a community (as teenagers must learn) what it "needs" to give up versus what it "wants" to give up. Only then will this discussion begin to move the city forward. Otherwise, it's only banter as to what side of town doesn't want to drive to the other side to see the fireworks.
Jul 9, 2009 at 5:53 p.m.
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YURI RASHKIN: The statement he made about the city council has a concern about where the city tax payers would want to spend their money! When are they concerned,or care where the tax payers money goes! What a joke of a statement,we know better.
Jul 9, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.
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I detect a hint of SARCASM ChsMkr, and yes SarahB1 this is the same council that has bent us over time and time again it's hard to believe isn't it.
Jul 9, 2009 at 5:07 p.m.
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No, it's a different council that they snuck in last week during the holiday while you weren't looking. Word is they might hold weekly referendums so you and yours can vote constantly on what's best for the city.
Jul 9, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.
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Is this the same council that didn't ask the public about a bike tunnel, junior league hockey team, parking ramp, etc.?
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