Comments on: Oak Ridge 4th of July fireworks canceled

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:56:56 +0000

Two televised meetings under your belt, and already leading with inventive ideas. I found this out on the www:

I really liked this comment,

“Thanks to Ellen for running, for all the people who helped her win, and to the voters who voted for a better Oak Ridge!”

This fireworks fiasco was met with a thinker on board, it is nice to actually read it and understand the mistake comes with a fixed cost, give or take shipping rate change. Plan for it and move ahead, I say.

Did this move of fireworks fall under the City Manager emergency fund? Was it his discretion or did policy take over? Just wondering, I would say shipping those shells would be around 85 cents a pound, maybe $2500 round trip.

If it was James O’Connor ordering the freight, this is certainly his call. A little pre-mature I think.

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:09:52 +0000

I still like your idea, of Aug. 5th. I guess free storage is something also, being broke and all. Once City of Oak Ridge does this special fireworks event once, the citizens will start asking for it every year. Some serendipity would be nice.

By: Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:55:01 +0000

I kind of liked the idea of a big community “blast” for no special occasion, but there wasn’t enough time to publicize an event before the end of the summer.

There’s some good news on the financial side. City manager Jim O’Connor says “We have been told there will be no cost to store the fireworks until next July 4.”

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:12:10 +0000

August 5, 2007 would have been very nice.

I’m no meteorologist, but we have been getting some rain. The September forecast is cooler than normal with above normal rainfall, which cooler could draw out more. We may have not missed our best use of these shots.

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:45:54 +0000

Ellen, I don’t think I can wait for our city’s fireworks a whole year. Why are the citizen’s being punished like this, is there a dud factor also waiting for one year?

At, http://www.usfireworks.biz/items/9198.htm

“Q: I usually purchase fireworks at roadside stands. I noticed that you sell many of the items I like to purchase for less than half of what I would pay at a fireworks stand. How are you able to do this?
A: We rely heavily on automation and distributed shipping. We also do not have to pay for stores, insurance on stores, and excess inventory that sits on store shelves for ELEVEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR. Our online business model saves us money, which we pass on to our customers in the form of savings.”

I believe now each shell has a 99% success, what is the percentage one year from now, and how many shells are in storage?

I believe using them this year would yield a better return.

By: Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:02:34 +0000

What Ray was alluding to is that the City staff now plans to store the fireworks until July 4th next year. Apparently the vendor is storing them (good question about the cost!), so we need not worry about city hall blowing up due to fireworks stored in a closet.

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:27:49 +0000

That was great effort Ellen. Does the city pay for storage of these fireworks?

Also, great work on keeping the team a team. Seems to me Mayor Beehan didn’t fare well on his first night on the second meeting of our new council, but with a councilwoman like you, I see every item will be addressed. He should be grateful.

By: Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:17:50 +0000

I’ve suggested to the city manager that the show be rescheduled to Sunday, August 5, when the community band next has a concert in the park. That’s not a school night (except for Willow Brook and the preschool), it’s not the same night as Boomsday in Knoxville (Labor Day has been suggested as a date for the Oak Ridge fireworks), and the fireworks could be dovetailed with the band concert to create a “last days of summer vacation evening in the park” activity.

However, the longer we wait for an announcement, the less chance there is to publicize the event.

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:11:13 +0000

The ways so many of us enjoy fireworks; this event could be used to draw others from surrounding areas to watch the delayed show. Now how does City of Oak Ridge fare to possibly have a large attendance to a belated 4th of July fireworks show?

By: Ray Kircher

Ray Kircher — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 13:43:16 +0000

Ellen, I’m proud of how well citizens preserved safety in City of Oak Ridge while others insisted on breaking the law. A few fires broke out last night, but most of the citizens understand what this does to a city. Have a nice nap and sweet dreams to our fire and police staff, great job.