From May 21, 2025 Memo from Michael E. Jackson, City Manager to Commission:

“At the May 13, 2025 City Commission Meeting, Proposed Resolution 2025-29 was introduced to authorize the City Manager to secure a fireworks vendor for the City of Pahokee’s July 4th Independence Day Celebration for an amount not to exceed $37,500.

At that time, Explosive Touch Enterprises was the only vendor to submit a quote and express willingness to provide services. However, no motion was made to approve or reject the proposed resolution, and it died for lack of a motion.

Through a subsequent motion, passed by a 4-1 majority, the City Commission directed the City Manager to obtain three  written quotes for fireworks services and return to the Commission for further consideration at the next meeting.

Despite diligent efforts, the City Manager was initially unable to secure additional quotes due to vendor unavailability. On May 14, 2025, Explosive Touch Enterprises formally withdrew their original proposal in response to the Commission’s direction. However, between May 14–20, 2025, further communication with the vendor resulted in a revised proposal for a July 5, 2025, fireworks display at an all-inclusive cost of $30,000.

Additionally, on May 19, 2025, the City Manager received a new proposal from Pyrotecnico, one of the vendors originally contacted prior to the May 13 meeting. While Pyrotecnico was initially unavailable for a July 4 event, they have since confirmed availability for a fireworks display to be held between June 27–29, 2025, and submitted a formal proposal for Commission consideration.

Both proposals fall within the originally discussed budget threshold and are provided for the Commission’s consideration in response to the motion made on May 13, 2025.”

At the May 13, 2025, City Commission Meeting, Cowan, McPherson, Scott VOTED NO (to cancel) TO FIREWORKS! Boldin was the only NO vote to cancelling.

At the January 6, 2026 Special Commission meeting, RESOLUTION 2026-03 AN EMERGENCY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PAHOKEE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO SECURE A FIREWORKS VENDOR FOR THE CITY OF PAHOKEE’S JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($35,000.00); PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

This discussion began at meeting mark 12:00. Cowan made motion to table the fireworks resolution. No Second.

Then, McPherson motioned to accept the resolution without the word Emergency. Scott motioned to accept resolution 2026-03 as is. Seconded by McPherson. VOTE: YES: Scott, McPherson, Babb, NO: Cowan

Cowan was wrong about the OIG Finding regarding Emergency basis resolutions, actions. The city procurement process was followed by having at least three vendor quotes. The OIG Finding dealt with the times the city selected one vendor on an emergency basis with no other options.

It is crazy that Scott and McPherson (along with Cowan) voted No to fireworks for Pahokee in 2025 based on their belief that the city did not have the funds. Then, except for Cowan, they voted to have fireworks this year in 2026.

 My question is what changed? What new information are we missing? Was the no vote by Cowan, McPherson, and Scott in 2025 to go against Manager Jackson? Was the 2025 fireworks vote to make Mr. Jackson look bad? Was the 2025 no to fireworks vote just a personal agenda by Cowan, McPherson, and Scott? What changed in 9 months to go from 2025 no fireworks to 2026 yes fireworks?