Franklin flips its decision and will allow fireworks after Milwaukee Milkmen games

Boom! Fireworks are back at Franklin Field.

The Franklin Common Council reconsidered its initial vote that forbid fireworks after Milwaukee Milkmen games during a special May 15 meeting, this time voting 5-0 in favor.

This decision comes after an appeal from Rock Sports Complex, which hosts the ballgames.

The original application requested fireworks for nine games – one of which already passed on May 10. The amended application removes that date, reiterates a 10-minute time limit for the pyrotechnics displays but requires all fireworks be done by 10 p.m.

The original vote, which was a motion to approve fireworks that failed, came on May 7 along with a decision to set a noise limit to 55 decibels for Milkmen games at the facility’s property line.

Owner and CEO of The Rock and Ballpark Commons Mike Zimmerman held a poll in the Franklin Area Community Page Facebook group asking if people wanted fireworks. The results were 95% pro and 5% against fireworks with 1,019 votes as of Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. when the poll had been live for about nine hours.

Ald. Michelle Eichmann said the majority of the calls she's received have been in favor of fireworks with only three people against them.

Ald. Ed Holpfer said his calls have been "on the other end of the spectrum."

Ald. Mike Barber suggested Zimmerman look into purchasing fireworks that are quieter.

Zimmerman said he would look at the data and see what could be done next year but asserted he was not aware of any fireworks complaints from past years.

“We do what every other minor league baseball stadium does … they’re about as silent as fireworks can be," he said.

Fireworks 'really not the problem' of past noise complaints

Zimmerman told the Journal Sentinel the meeting was “very frustrating,” but he was pleased with the outcome.

“It’s the right decision. It’s part of minor league baseball; it’s the sound of summer and what our customers want and expect," he said.

He was a bit surprised at the focus on fireworks saying they were never a majorly contentious issue .

“In the grand scheme of noise, it’s really not the problem,” he said of the fireworks. “We’ve done a lot and we’ll continue to do more (to address noise concerns), but the product can’t be watered down to the point where I can’t sell it.”

Zimmerman said the “pandering has to stop in Franklin” to a “very small minority.”

“I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t be thoughtful about neighbors that are close, but it’s very frustrating when we’re trying to create products and be an entertainment district for a radius of 200 miles,” he said.

More: Mayor breaks tie after Franklin council deadlocks on allowing Tacos & Tequila event in 2024

What about the 55-decibel limit during Milkmen games?

During public comment at the May 15 meeting, one resident took issue with comments Mayor John Nelson made to WISN 12 following that vote doubting if that decibel limit was doable, with the resident saying they thought this issue was resolved.

Nelson clarified his comments that the 55-decibel limit in city ordinance was almost three decades old.

“Definitely Franklin wasn’t where it is now,” he said regarding noise generation in the city.

A sound test held May 5 at The Rock found sound levels to be in the low to mid-50s for decibel ratings with no events.

“Is this relevant, is it even accurate anymore given the ambient level of noise that currently exists?” Nelson questioned of the ordinance limit.

Zimmerman said this decibel limit has put his business in a difficult position with a goal he can never hit. He said he agreed with Nelson and called the 55-decibel limit vote a "goofy motion" and said it was "unreasonable and unrealistic."

"First and foremost we are in violation as we speak," Zimmerman told the council. "You guys can cite us now if you want."

Despite the higher levels since the council’s vote, Zimmerman told the Journal Sentinel the neighbors seem to be happy and he has not been cited by police.

The 55-decible limit was not on the agenda at the May 15 meeting so no discussion was had on that point.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com . Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner , and follow him on X @Redheadliner .

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Franklin flips its decision and will allow fireworks after Milwaukee Milkmen games