Elgin won't participate in Northwest Fourth-Fest

Elgin won't be a partner in Hoffman Estates' Fourth of July fireworks show next summer, and city officials will instead decide whether to hold fireworks in town or not at all.

The Elgin City Council decided in a 5-4 vote this week to forego participating in Northwest Fourth-Fest after partnering in the event the last two years.

Council members Terry Gavin, Anna Moeller, Tish Powell, John Prigge and Toby Shaw voted in favor of the motion.

Powell said she wants the fireworks to be held in Elgin.

“I think it's really a source of pride for our community,” she said. “ We're one of the largest communities in the state and it just seems like we should be able to do something here in Elgin.”

The city contributed $15,000 in cash plus $5,000 in personnel each year it participated in the Hoffman Estates show.

Councilman Toby Shaw chaired a committee that in the fall researched having fireworks in Elgin.

An initial estimate showed a 10-minute fireworks and laser show, along with marketing, equipment rental, and police and fire personnel costs, would cost about $73,000, Shaw said last month.

“If we don't get sponsors, $73,000 to me is a hefty price tag. My recommendation is do nothing,” he said.

The issue will be discussed at a city council meeting later this month or in January.

Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod said the village is always looking for more partners and sponsors for the celebration held at Sears Centre Arena.

“We appreciate Elgin partnering with us and we hope they come back at some point,” he said. “We'll continue to have a festival regularly.”

Last summer's festival losses amounted to about $57,000, or less than half the 2012 losses, he said. McLeod attributed that to securing more sponsorships and food vendors.

“The goal is to make it revenue neutral,” he said. “It's way too expensive for one community to do a major event like this.”

Hanover Park and Hanover Township each contributed $10,000 to the show plus personnel in the last two years. Both will partner with Hoffman Estates again next summer, McLeod said.

Elgin last held Fourth of July fireworks in 2008, before they were cut from the budget due to the economic recession, said Elgin special events coordinator Barb Keselica.

The city last held fireworks in 2009 at Fox Fire Fest at Festival Park. Later, that was also cut from the budget, she said.