Fundraising committee seeks donations for New Years Eve fireworks on Fort Myers Beach
The Year 2017 is waning, and the Fireworks Fundraising Committee needs donations if 2018 will arrive with a bang on Fort Myers Beach.
Jacki Liszak’s fundraising group already has about half of the $20,000 goal, thanks to a generous donation from Tetra Tech Engineering. Now, she’s hoping the business community and residents can help with the rest so there can be fireworks on New Years Eve.
Donations can be made on the group’s gofundme page at Gofundme.com/FMB-Fireworks-Fund, which it’s used for previous fireworks fundraisers, or at Facebook.com/FMB.Fireworks.Fund, or by writing a check to the FMB Fireworks Fund.
Liszak plans to go before the Fort Myers Beach Town Council Monday to okay the fireworks and get the town to do the permitting.
The town is already planning on its annual town birthday event, celebrating with cupcakes at noon in Times Square – but, it’s also still doing the ball drop at midnight.
The town council voted during budget season to fully pay for the Fourth of July event, including fireworks. It voted not to contribute to New Years Eve fireworks but to hand that part of the evening to be taken on by someone in the community.
However, by doing the ball drop, the town will still have to pay the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for the additional detail needed on the island during a busy holiday.
“There is a cost associated with New Years Eve,” Town Manager Roger Hernstadt said.
If the fundraising committee can show in good faith that it will cover the cost of the fireworks, Hernstadt said he’d bring up the event to council at Monday’s meeting for discussion about permitting, and let the council decide if it’s willing to help the committee out in that area of the event.
“There’s a whole series of permits it needs, we’re gearing up to have that ready to go if the council wants to push the button,” Hernstadt said. “The council is not paying for fireworksIf everything’s ready to go and (permits are) the only hold-up, that’s a pretty minor cost.”
Liszak said the money they raised would pay just for the fireworks, and that the town has always done the permitting side of the display.
“The council challenged the business community to step forward,” Hernstadt said. “It sounds like they’re coming forward with something.”