Dry conditions and heavy winds, along with the devastating Marshall Fire still in recent memory, Golden City Council members decided not to sign a contract for a city fireworks show this year.

The decision came at the end of the May 10 city council meeting, as members were discussing new business items in the agenda.

“This is the time of year that we talk about signing contracts for fireworks for July 4,” Acting Golden City Manager Carley Lorentz said. “How these contracts work is if you are able to have the fireworks on that day, great, and if not, then you’ll have to do it sometime that year or else just lose your money.”

Lorentz, who was asking council for feedback, added that several other communities have made the call to not have fireworks on July 4, opting for other ways to celebrate such as drone shows, but cautioned it may be too late to engage a vendor for this year.

“I do think the better course is to not do the fireworks,” Golden District 2 Councilor Casey Brown said. “I’d rather not do it is my preference, and I love the idea of drones, but if that can’t be done, I totally understand. But I’m totally in favor of skipping the fireworks.”

Ward 3 Councilor Don Cameron agreed.

“I would just say ‘ditto,’” Cameron said. “I’m in favor of skipping the fireworks as opposed to signing a contract and doing it later”

Cameron, who is also on board with the idea of a drone show in lieu of fireworks, suggested the city expand on the idea and involve the Downtown Development Authority and downtown merchants.

“We could start thinking about building that up over time, like the candlelight walk and lighting along the streets,” he said. “But I think it’s appropriate to move away from fireworks completely.”

If the city were able to contract with a drone show company, Lorentz said the cost would be somewhere around $60,000.

“It breaks my heart, but I think it’s the right decision to make,” Ward 1 Council Robert Reed said. “Sorry, kiddos.”

“I think with the fire danger and the concerns, it’s not an appropriate year to sign a fireworks contract," agreed Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg. "If we haven’t done it yet, then we don’t have to move forward with it for this year.”

In early April, the School of Mines E-Days fireworks show was canceled due to increasing fire concerns, and on April 22, Golden Fire Department Chief Jerry Stricker, in cooperation with the city, enacted a Stage 1 fire ban, effective until further notice.