The Plainfield Village Board during Monday’s committee of the whole workshop debated whether to have a joint firework show with nearby Romeoville.

Plainfield Village Administrator Joshua Blakemore said the village reviews the Plainfield Park District’s request for fireworks funding on an annual basis.

“After the 2023 fireworks, there were some questions about potentially coordinating a show with Romeoville,” Blakemore said.

 The park district, according to Blackmore presented him with three possible options. One is a $20,000 show split evenly between the park district and the Village of Plainfield. This show, he said, would be a “slightly decreased” show from last year due to increasing cost of fireworks. The second option is a $22,000 show, split evenly between the park district and Plainfield. This would be the same show as last year’s, Blakemore said.

The third option would be a coordinated show in six locations within Plainfield and Romeoville. The cost would be $47,250 each for the park district, Romeoville, and Plainfield. 

The park district has committed to the first option, which is to contribute $10,000.  But they have not financially committed to a coordinated show, which is much more expensive, he noted.

Plainfield village trustee Patricia Kalkanis said the joint show with Romeoville would be too costly.

“I prefer the second option,” she said. “I understand it is a crowded event, but the numbers thrown at us tonight are too much. It would be reckless for us to go with option three.”

While the consensus was to pursue the second option, which would cost $22,000, Mayor John Argoudelis said he would be open to future discussions on the third proposal down the line. But it would not be for the 2024 fireworks show.

“It was a mess for Plainfield Emergency Management Agency and the police last year because people were in one location,” said trustee Tom Ruane. “At some point, we do need to have multiple locations.”

Though Plainfield has been donating toward the fireworks show since 2008, Blakemore said the cost does not include the time spent at the event by police and public works’ personnel.  He said the Plainfield Police Department estimates the 2023 event cost just over $5,000. The park district plans and organizes the fireworks show, which the village partially funds.

Blakemore said the Village of Romeoville initiated the joint fireworks show proposal with the Plainfield Park District.