Panel formed for fireworks return

Council gives nod to July 4th event

3/7/2012

Waterville city officials have informally given the green light to community efforts to present a red, white, and blue fireworks show to coincide with the July 4 holiday.

A committee has been formed to Bring Back the Boom, and before it went further with plans to raise funds for the event, committee members asked for council's nod.

Mayor Lori Brodie said she thinks it is a great idea, and Councilman Jim Valtin said he would do whatever he can to help the group reach its goal. Councilman Tim Pedro said it's nice to see enthusiasm for bringing back the fireworks show.

The mayor told committee members during council's meeting last week that it has the support of the elected officials.

Councilman Barb Bruno, who also is a Bring Back the Boom committee member, said the group hopes to raise $20,000 to cover costs for a fireworks show this year and to provide seed money for an event next year as well.

Committee members plan to approach businesses about sponsorships, and a door-to-door fund-raising effort is in the works as well.

Committee members include Mary Duncan of Waterville, who made a presentation to council; Veronica Roeser of Haskins, and Debby Sniderhan of Waterville.

Council formerly earmarked funds for the popular event, but in 2010 elected officials decided the city lacked money to continue the show.

In other business, council approved a resolution authorizing James Bagdonas, municipal administrator, to enter into an agreement with Lucas County and the cities of Maumee, Oregon, Sylvania, and Toledo for the establishment of a regional combined health district for the administration of health and environmental services within Lucas County.

Mr. Bagdonas explained that as a village, Waterville was included in the Lucas County general health district along with other villages and townships in the county, but when Waterville became a city last year, it became a city health district and no longer was part of the general health district.

Maumee, Oregon, Sylvania, and Toledo have contracted with Lucas County to establish a regional combined health district known as the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, according to Mr. Bagdonas.

The resolution approved by council authorizes an agreement with the current members of the regional combined health district to add Waterville as an additional city member of the district.

The formula for annual payment to the health district remains the same, he said.

Dr. David Grossman, health commissioner, who attended the meeting, welcomed Waterville as the 13th member of the health board.

Also during the meeting, members of a local Girl Scout Daisy Troop presented a floral arrangement to city officials. The arrangement included seven daisy flowers, representing the members of the troop.

The arrangement was made as part of activities related to the Girl Scouts' 100th anniversary.