Cedar Boat Club plans fireworks, but must find funding

The Cedar Boat Club plans to bring back a long-running Cedar River tradition this year.  But paying the bill for the July 3

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fireworks could present a problem.

For decades, the boat club shot off fireworks on July 3

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from the Ellis Boat Harbor.  Crowds of up to 40,000 people annually attended what was a warm up for the Freedom Fest fireworks on the 4

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.  Club members have always supported the event without city assistance.

Flood damage and safety concerns forced the Cedar Boat Club to give up the fireworks display the last two years at Ellis Boat Harbor.  But the club wants to restart the tradition this July 3

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.  The problem, now, is money.

Cedar Rapids Police estimate the club will have to pay $9,300 for off-duty officers to provide security at the event.  In pre-flood years, police handled the security duties for no charge.  Boat club member Jim Kaas said the club realizes it will have to begin paying something for crowd control.  But he's concerned that $9,300 is just too much for a 20-minute, no charge event.  And he's hoping the city can come up with a compromise and fee reduction.

“They're trying to determine what makes sense there.  We understand it's a 20 minute event and they're reviewing (the requirement for ) the number of officers to see if they can knock that down,” Kaas said.

Boat club members were also hoping to bring a new water event to the Cedar River in August.  But the idea of an official drag boat race on the river at Ellis Harbor won't happen this year.  Kaas said there's not enough time to get a Cedar Rapids stop on the race calendar.  But he hopes to add a drag boat event in 2011.