Firework funds will be spent on show

Fox Lake officials have agreed to use money donated to fireworks for fireworks, rather than to help offset flooding costs.

Mayor Cindy Irwin said the village has raised $3,000 to $5,000 more than needed for the fireworks show slated for July 5 on Rollins Road, about two blocks east of Lakeland Plaza.

Some officials had considered putting that money toward the village's mounting bills to fight the third flood in the last year.

"Residents put their money in the fireworks fund, and we should spend it on that purpose," Irwin said Friday. "It would be a slap in the face not to."

Because the village signed a contract with pyrotechnicians for $15,000, and the board raised nearly $20,000, she said the board needed to approve increasing the contract to add in the additional donations.

Some trustees balked, saying the contract should remain the same, and the donated share put toward reducing the village's $7,500 commitment to the fireworks show.

Trustee Ed Bender said the donated funds could free up money to offset the cost of sandbagging.

"We spent a lot of money on sandbagging, and we are going to have mosquito abatement to pay for when the water goes down," Bender said. "I'm not against the fireworks, but I just think we need to be concerned about that cost."

Heavy rain recorded in late May and early June sent the Chain O' Lakes about two and a half feet over flood stage. The village of Fox Lake has spent about $150,000 this year and about $300,000 over the last 11 months on sandbagging.

Officials hope the federal government will step in and help cover the cost of this latest flood.

Irwin said residents facing higher costs for everything from food to gas specifically plunked down money to see a fireworks show, and it would be wrong to not give it to them.

"It would really be wrong if we didn't do what the people wanted with the money they donated," she said. "This is important to them, and we should give it to them."