JULY 4TH COMMITTEE

4nOV Village of Hales Corners 5635 S. New Berlin Road Hales Corners, WI 53130 Phone: (414) 529-6161 www.halescornerswi.gov James R. Ryan Municipal Building JULY 4TH COMMITTEE Minutes March 12, 2025–6:30 pm Village Hall (Board Room) 1.0 Call to Order & Roll Call- Called to order at 6:40pm. Present: N. Wilkes, I. Thomson, E. Valaitis, R. Lindner, A. Dunning, Olivia Sterny, Paulette Czerwinski (Firecracker Four Run representative) 2.0 Minutes–Approval of June 5th, 2024 minutes (I. Thomson, R. Linder – All Approved) 3.0 Treasurer’s Report • N. Wilkes provided the committee with a copy of the 2025 Budget. • E. Valaitis suggested report include a 2024 comparison. • I. Thomson noted a new sound system needs to be included in the 2025 budget approx. $1500. • Budget for another port a potty to be placed in the upper parking lot of HCE by the Children’s parade area. • The contract with Wolverine Fireworks was approved by the Village and deposit paid. 4.0 Safety & Security Review • Officer Henner could not be present. • The committee discussed closing off 104th S. Parnell to Charles at noon during parade line up. • Further Safety Review discussion at May Meeting Permits & Contracts • Contract and Deposit with Wolverine is done. • The village has contacted Milwaukee County to secure park permits including restrooms and pool house access 7/3 & 7/4. 5.0 Food and Drink Donations/Vendors • Alyssa completed the online donation request with Festival foods for 700 ice cream sandwiches for the children’s parades/games. • All Food Trucks and Brewery will be in the upper Library Parking Lot. $50 fee for food Vendors and $100 fee for Beer Vendor plus a $150 security deposit, • Nancy reached out to the 2024 vendors and all plan to return: KT’s Wok, In & Out Foods, and Perspective Brewery. KT’s Wok will move to the Library Parking lot with the vendors to set up a Food Truck/Food Court Area • The committee discussed the limits to three Food Trucks and one Beverage vendor. 6.0 Events 6.1 Firecracker Four • Paulet Czerwinski and Kevin Laufer will co-chair the 2025 Firecracker Four Run  • P. Czerwinski reported. • Park Permit Request has been submitted. • The festival Foods donation request has been submitted. • Run will need some rerouting this year due to waterline replacement work. Paulet will discuss new route with Villlage DPW 6.2 Car Show • No Report 6.3 Children’s Parade • A. Dunning reported. • Alyssa will reach out to WSD for HCE property usage approval. • Alyssa will contact previous volunteers and post for volunteers on the 4th of July Committee’s Facebook Page • Adding a judging Unit for Scooters • Alyssa will make new category signs and refresh some of the signs. • Now 7 judging divisions: Bikes 9+, Bikes 7&8, Bikes under 6, Trikes, Wagons/Stroller, Scooters and Specialty Units. Judging will be based on the child’s work. • This year will add a best of show award. • Alyssa will order 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Best in Show Medals 6.4 Children’s Games • E. Valaitis reported. • If needed, Eileen will order children’s games ribbons and balloon toss medals. • Ice Cream and Children’s Games will need 4-5volunteers. • Eileen will reach out to Dan O’Donnell about emceeing the Children’s Games. • July 3rd –pick up ice cream sandwiches. • On July 3rd Eileen will mark the field lines with Ian and Dan and fill water balloons. 6.5 Patriotic Pet Costume Contest • N. Wilkes reported. • Working on securing prizes and judges. • Additional Vendor Participation is planned. 6.6 Pie Baking Contest • I. Thomson reported. • Eileen/Alyssa will order award medals. • Event will run the same as in the past. 6.7 Hot Dog Eating Competition • I. Thomson reported. • Changing Start time to 12:30 pm 6.8 Bed Races • R. Lindner reported. • Beds need to be moved to a more accessible location. • The Bed’s wheels and alignment need to be worked on. • Rand will post updated posters and rules on the committee’s Google Docs • Bed Trophies for 1st place, medals for 2nd place and ribbons for third place. • Rand will order trophies, medals, and ribbons. • Teams will be grouped at time of entry. • Bed Races will start at 1:30pm  6.9 Big Parade • I. Thomson reported. • Olivia Sterny has joined the July 4th committee and will work with Ian to divide up duties of coordinatingthe Big Parade • The committee discussed that the $500 Floats budget could be used to grant the first five nonprofit float applicants a $100 each to cover some of the float costs. • Olivia will update Google Docs to include an online Parade Application Submission option. • If available, the UW 5th Quarter Band will perform at last year’s location-Hales Corners Park by the Veterans Memorial • Committee agreed to ask the Hawthorn Garden Club which is celebrating it’s100th Anniversary to be the Parade Grand Marshalls • The committee discussed themes: Freedom in Full Bloom and Red, White & Bloom 6.10 Fireworks • Contract and deposit have been made with Wolverine. • Rain date was left open. 7.0 Publicity 7.1 Flyer • N. Wilkes will update the flyer. • Committee members marked changes to last year’s flyer. 7.2 Press Release • N. Wilkes will prepare a press release. Last year the Now and Journal Sentinel published old information in their 4th of July events lisiting. Next Meeting Date for Wednesday, April 16th at 6:30 pm 8.0 Adjournment- 7:58 pm Motion by E. Valaitis second by A. Dunning