The city commission authorized Jim McNeil, owner of Delta Force Security and Private Investigation, to work with the Gladstone Parks and Recreation Department and Spielbauer Fireworks for next year’s Independence Day celebration.

(Note: This is not the same Jim McNeil who is the city manager of Escanaba.)

McNeil approached the city last month with the proposal. He is experienced with planning, setting up and executing fireworks displays, and suggested using the same supplier as the city has worked with in the past — Spielbauer Fireworks Co. out of Green Bay.

McNeil had gotten into fireworks as a hobby after working with explosives when Delta Force P.I. had an explosives detection dog about 10 years ago, he explained.

From left to right, Gladstone City Commissioners Whitney Maloney, Steve O'Driscoll, Brad Mantela, Judy Akkala, Joe Thompson, and City Manager Rob Spreitzer listen to Delta Force PI owner Jim McNeil talk about his hopes for the 2027 fireworks display. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

“Recently, I really got into it, where I bought all the electronics to put a really good show on,” McNeil told the commission on Monday night. “I want to put Gladstone on the map. I love doing it, and it would be a betterment for the community.”

McNeil isn’t charging the city for his services. Since Gladstone usually purchases through Spielbauer anyway, and has in the past relied on the provider to also send pyrotechnicians to Gladstone, this route helps the city be self-sufficient.

McNeil intends to carry on the display in Gladstone for the next five years. The city fireworks would be slightly larger than ones he’s done in the past, but he’s confident is his skills, equipment and ideas.

“We can sync it to music; we can do a lot of really neat things with it,” McNeil said.

Money for Gladstone’s Fourth of July fireworks usually comes from the Dr. Mary Cretens fund, which holds monies left to the city by the namesake benefactor for recreation among other things.

At present, Gladstone is looking to purchase $10,000 worth of fireworks from Spielbauer, who gives the municipality a discount. Though the price will likely change by next year, a current quote shows that amount would buy 252 electronic ignitions. McNeil suggested that fundraising could be initiated if Gladstone wants to go bigger.

Parks and Recreation Director Wendy Taavola remarked that since 2027 is Gladstone’s 140th birthday, that could be reason for an extra-special display.

The commission unanimously agreed to authorize McNeil to work with the city in coordinating the 2027 fireworks.

In other business at the April 13 meeting:

– The Gladstone City Commission approved a bid from Mark Wilk of St. Ignace to uplift a new police cruiser. Public Safety had budgeted a few police car for this year and intended to replace car #60, but when the K-9 cruiser was unexpectedly totaled recently, it became the one to get replaced. The purchase of a 2026 Dodge Durango cost $41,679 from LaFontaine in Lansing; decals for the car cost $1,000; and stripping and upfitting by Wilk will be $6,665.46.

– On order to support the Gladstone Housing Commission’s future development plans for Fairview Manor, the city agreed to vacate the western half of Birch Street.

– Code official George Sailer presented a summary of property maintenance accomplishments and issues in 2025.

– The city approved Delta County Non-Motorized Trails’ application for a Hannahville 2% grant application for the Community Bike Path Project at the Gladstone Sports Park.

– The metal detecting policy was updated.

– The commission set a public hearing about the lead service line replacement project and State Revolving Loan Fund for April 27. The hearing will take place at 6 p.m. at the beginning of the next regular public meeting at City Hall.