After a fireworks-less Fourth of July in 2016, Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner wants to avoid a repeat this year.

While no plans have been finalized, the Winchester Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to contribute $3,500 to the cause. Last year, the Clark County Fiscal Court set aside the same amount from the Fiscal Court Fund.

Burtner said he’s had several meetings to discuss other events for the holiday, but nothing has been settled yet. 

Clark County Magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos has a license to use fireworks and organized similar holiday events in the past, Burtner said. Konstantopoulos has offered to discharge the fireworks for the community for no charge, Burtner said.

Lykins Park may be the venue, although it has not been secured, he said.

The only confirmed holiday event is a free meal offered for veterans by Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation and the Elks lodge, he said. 

“I would hope people will fly their flags,” Burtner said.

The commission also scheduled a special meeting for June 13 for the first reading of the city’s fiscal year 2018 budget. During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission added a second item to discuss a deteriorating street in the Fairholme subdivision. Two residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to ask for the city’s help in repairing the streets. 

Though they have not been accepted by the city, the commission voted unanimously to look into accessing the developer’s line of credit to pay for the final paving surface on Fairholme Way.

Burtner said it is the developer’s responsibility to complete the roads before offering them to the city for acceptance. Burtner said he would contact a construction company for an estimate under emergency circumstances, because the line of credit expires in August. A bond was not posted with the city for the project, he said. 

“We’ve been working with the developers for … a good while in terms of trying to get the work done,” City Manager Matt Belcher said. “Those are private streets at this point. We’re at a point they need to be completed and adopted.”

In other action, the commissioners:

— approved a request to increase EMS transport mileage rates from $11 per mile to $12.

— approved an annexation ordinance for about 70 acres owned by Infiltrator Systems.

— renewed the city’s agreement with wrecker services.

— reappointed David Puckett to the Winchester-Clark County Board of Adjustment for a four-year term.

— reappointed Sarah Glenn to the Winchester-Clark County Planning Commission for a four-year term.

— reappointed Paul Howard to the local codes appeals board for a three-year term.

— accepted the retirement of James Townsend from Winchester Fire-EMS.