The Pahrump Town Board voted to reject a proposal by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale to put on a fireworks display Friday, July 4, at its meeting Tuesday.

The motion also requested a proposal for a show to take place Saturday, July 5.

Zambelli Fireworks has put on Pahrump's fireworks show for over a decade, although usually on an alternate date as the majority of the local crew is most often booked for shows in Las Vegas or at Nellis Air Force Base on the actual Independence Day.

Board Member Don Rust voted against the motion.

In response to many residents' complaints that the town's fireworks display takes place either before or after the actual holiday, the board agreed last year to accept a proposal for a show on the actual holiday.

The town has budgeted $25,000.

Chairman Laurayne Murray, however, said she had issues with several aspects of the July 4 proposal.

First of all, she pointed out, the budgeted amount for the proposed show would only garner about 12 minutes worth of fireworks, as opposed to the 28-minute shows the town has enjoyed in the past.

In exchange for having the show on an alternate date, Zambelli had traditionally added about $10,000 worth of fireworks for free.

Secondly, the town would be responsible for the additional costs of security, hauling the fireworks, storing the fireworks, two laborers and cleaning up the area afterwards.

"So even though it appears at face value that it's a $25,000 project, it's significantly higher than that when we add all the security costs, et cetera," Murray said.

She pointed out that the additional costs were volunteered by John O'Brien, Zambelli's head pyrotechnition locally, and his crew in past years because he had more people available on alternate dates.

The chairman also pointed out that in the previous years Pahrump had built a reputation for having the largest fireworks show in Nevada and indicated a responsibility to live up to it.

"Historically Pahrump has brought in thousands of people," Murray said. "There are citizens within our community who have family members who schedule their vacations to come in specifically to see our show."

Board Member Dan Sprouse added that the usual firing site, behind Petrack Park, might not be seen as acceptable by another pyrotechnic company and cautioned that not using Zambelli could result in having to relocate the show entirely.

Murray offered a pre-emptive response to the perpetual complaints of shooting off fireworks "on the wrong day," as it is often put.

"I know the community has voiced, in the past, some upset and that July 4^th is July 4^th is July 4^th," Murray conceded. "And it was a great thought that July 4^th is on the weekend and we should have it on that day, but what has occurred is we're a small fish in a big pond, and July 4^th is booked by all the big fish like Las Vegas and the show is just not available for us on that date."