By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur City Council has hiked its contribution to the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration and a related discussion sparked some strong support for local businesses.
The event will be held on Thursday, July 2, on Riverside Center’s parking lot with music provided by Proud Mary CCR, the usual honoring of veterans, and fireworks.
The sponsoring Decatur Chamber of Commerce had formally asked council if it could boost its usual donation to help the celebration which this year will also mark the country’s 250th anniversary.
In recent years, council has provided a $2,500 donation. After some discussion at its May 19 meeting, however, council approved a donation of $3,500, noting that it had saved $1,000 when last year’s Callithumpian Festival’s fireworks show was washed out.
During the discussion, Councilman Tyler Fullenkamp remarked that city council is hardly the only financial booster of the annual celebration.
“There are a lot of businesses in this community who donate a lot of money to this and a lot of things,” he said.
And the Chamber – which puts together the Summer Concert Series each year – “is doing a lot to help the quality of life in this community,” Mayor Dan Rickord said.
“Instead of complaining, maybe some people should be thanking the businesses for what they do,” added a slightly miffed Rickord.
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