HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2026.05.21 - 42957
AGENDA ITEM: Sponsorship of 2026 Independence Township Fireworks at Independence Fest
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, May 21, 2026 9:30 AM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2026-6594
Motion to approve a one-time allotment of $5,000 from the FY 2026 Board of Commissioners’
General Fund Sponsorship line-item budget to sponsor the 2026 Independence Township fireworks
display at Independence Fest. Further, authorize the Board Chair to execute any required
agreements on behalf of Oakland County. Additionally, require that the recipient publicly promote
the County’s support as a primary Sponsor and submit an impact report to the Board of
Commissioners by the end of the calendar year, detailing the outcomes of the concert series,
including attendance, participation, and the number of Oakland County residents served.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Special Project Karen Joliat
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Please provide the full name, title, and organization of the person submitting this request.
Chuck Phyle, Supervisor, Independence Township
Please provide the requester’s email address and phone number.
cphyleii@indtwp.com
248-625-5111
Please provide the organization’s address and website, if applicable.
6483 Waldon Center Drive, Clarkston, MI 48346
www.indtwp.com
Please identify whether the organization is a governmental entity, a nonprofit, or another
type of entity, and include tax status if applicable.
Local Government Entity, tax exempt
Tax ID #38-6006906
Please identify the sponsoring Commissioner(s) for this request.
Karen Joliat, District #8
Describe what you are requesting the Board to fund and what the public will receive as a
result.
Independence Township is requesting funding support for the 2026 Independence Township
fireworks display at Independence Fest. The public will receive access to a free, family-friendly
community event featuring music, activities, community programming, veteran recognition, and a
professional fireworks display.
Is this request best classified as a sponsorship of an event or support for a program?
Sponsorship
If this request includes an event, please provide the event date(s), location(s), expected
attendance, and whether the event is free and open to the public.
Independence Fest will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Clintonwood Park, 6000
Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI 48348. Expected attendance is approximately 8,000 attendees. The
event is free and open to the public.
What is the total budget for the overall project, program, or event, and what is the specific
amount requested from the Board of Commissioners? Please present both figures clearly
and explain how the requested amount fits into the total budget.
The total event budget exceeds $85,000, including $25,000 specifically for the fireworks display.
The request to the Board of Commissioners is $5,000. The requested funds would help offset the
cost of the professional fireworks display and support the Township’s ability to keep the event free
and accessible.
Please provide a narrative budget explanation describing what costs exist in the overall
budget and which costs the Board’s requested funds would pay for.
The overall budget includes event operations, entertainment, safety and security, staffing, shuttle
transportation, marketing, equipment rentals, sanitation, and the annual fireworks display. The
requested $5,000 from Oakland County would be applied directly toward the professional fireworks
display, including the contracted pyrotechnics company, launch and safety personnel, permitting,
fire and emergency coordination, site preparation, crowd management, and post-event cleanup.
Please describe all confirmed funding partners, matching funds, sponsorships, or in-kind
contributions, and specify the amount or estimated value of each.
Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors provides significant financial and operational
support through departmental staffing, event coordination, park maintenance, facility use, logistical
planning, public safety coordination, setup and teardown, custodial services, shuttle coordination,
traffic management, and overall supervision. Additional confirmed support is provided through
community sponsorships, vendor participation fees, parking revenue, and in-kind contributions from
local businesses and organizations, with an estimated value of approximately $40,000. Current
sponsors and supporters include Acrisure, LLC, Beauchamp Water Treatment Solutions, Clarkston
Area Optimist Club, Clarkston Towing, Lowrie’s Landscape, Inc., Pat Kittle, The Almond Hut, Vista
Spring Trillium Village Estate, Serene Gardens of Clarkston, Bowman Chevrolet, Hutchinson’s
Electric, Genisys Credit Union, Amy Peterson Photography, Everest Academy, Oakland County
Parks, McLaren, Carnwath Excavating, The Goddard School, FRIENDS of Independence Township
Senior Community Center, RCX Sports, TNR Disposal, Goldfish Swim School, Independence
Market, Esprit Vacations, and Dort Financial Credit Union.
If contributions are not yet confirmed, please describe what is anticipated, what is pending,
and when decisions will be made.
Sponsorship, in-kind donation, and partnership efforts are ongoing until the event date.
If the Board does not fund this request, what would change, be reduced, or not occur?
The event would proceed as normal.
Please explain the public purpose of the project in clear terms, including how Oakland
County residents will benefit.
Independence Fest provides a safe, family-friendly community celebration that promotes civic pride,
community engagement, recreation, cultural connection, and veteran recognition. Oakland County
residents benefit from free or low-cost access to live entertainment, youth activities, a military
museum, a classic car display, vendor market, spray park access, the Veterans Celebration, and a
professionally managed fireworks display. The event also supports local businesses, vendors,
community organizations, and regional economic activity.
Please explain what the County receives in return for the expenditure. If the request is a
sponsorship, describe recognition benefits. If the request is a program, describe program
deliverables and measurable public outcomes.
Oakland County will receive sponsorship recognition through logo placement on printed and digital
marketing materials, inclusion on the Township website and event pages, on-site signage, and
verbal recognition during event announcements. The County’s support will also help deliver
measurable public benefits, including safe and affordable recreation, community engagement,
veteran recognition, cultural and recreational programming, support for local vendors and
businesses, and regional visitor engagement.
If this request includes improvements to property not owned by Oakland County, please
explain who owns the property, who will control and maintain the improvements, and how
the public will have continued access to the benefit funded by the County.
The event takes place in public park and community spaces in Independence Township. No
permanent property improvements are included in this request.
Please provide a clear implementation timeline with start date, milestones (if applicable), and
completion date.
Planning occurs by Township staff throughout 2026 and culminates with Independence Fest on
June 27, 2026.
Please describe who will benefit from the project, including estimated number of Oakland
County residents served and which communities or geographic areas are expected to
participate.
The event will benefit residents of all ages throughout Oakland County, with an estimated
attendance of approximately 8,000 people. The event primarily serves Independence Township and
the Clarkston area, while also attracting attendees from surrounding communities including Orion
Township, Springfield Township, Waterford, White Lake, Auburn Hills, Holly, Oxford, Pontiac, and
other Southeast Michigan communities.
Please describe how success will be evaluated and what measurable outcomes will be
reported.
Success will be evaluated through attendance levels, community participation, operational
performance, public feedback, and successful delivery of planned programming. Measurable
outcomes may include estimated total attendance, number of veterans and guests participating in
the Veterans Celebration, number of volunteers, number of vendors, sponsors, and community
partners, public engagement and feedback, safe completion of the fireworks display, and social
media or promotional reach.
Please confirm that the organization will submit an outcomes report to the Board of
Commissioners by the end of the calendar year and describe what that report will include,
such as attendance, participation, services delivered, and resident impact.
Yes. Independence Township will submit an outcomes report to the Board of Commissioners by the
end of the calendar year. The report will include public benefit and resident impact, estimated
attendance, number of volunteers, vendor and sponsor participation, services and programming
delivered, Veterans Celebration activities, family programming, entertainment offerings, and the
community fireworks display.
If requested, please confirm the organization will provide proof of expenditure, invoices, or
comparable documentation showing how Board funds were used.
Yes.
FISCAL IMPACT: Subsequent QR Budget Amendment Required
Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Chuck Phyle Supervisor Independence Township
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 5/21/2026
AGENDA DEADLINE: 05/07/2026 4:30 PM
ATTACHMENTS
None
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2026-05-13 Finance - Recommend to Board
2026-05-21 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Michael Gingell
Seconded by: Commissioner Penny Luebs
Yes: Ann Erickson Gault, Michael Gingell, Marcia Gershenson, Robert Hoffman, Karen Joliat,
Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen Markham, William Miller III, Kristen Nelson, Angela Powell,
Robert Smiley, Yolanda Smith Charles, Michael Spisz, Linnie Taylor, Philip Weipert, David
Woodward (17)
No: Charles Cavell (1)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Brendan Johnson (1)
Passed