Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem Greggory Cassady, on behalf of the church, said, “The buzzards are back. The other morning I counted 28. They were doing their thing all over the property, the children’s playground equipment. Last year I got the approval from the council to set off fireworks. They say they make things disappear and they do for a little while … about 9-10 months, then it seems like every spring they want to come back.”

The City of Bangs has an ordinance against the use of fireworks in the city limits, which had to be waived to allow the process to take place.

With the anticipation of phone calls coming in, Cassady stated City Hall and the Bangs Police Department will be notified approximately 10 minutes before the fireworks are ignited.

Cassady said this will occur twice a day – “in the morning and right before they roost.” No date was provided on when this will occur.

In other business Monday night:

• The city council discussed potentially hiring a city manager with a background in economic development to assist with the EDC, at a salary of $80,000. The council informed EDC members if it was first passed through their ranks, the city council would take up the item for action.
• The City’s audit report, conducted by Merritt, McLane, and Hamby, P.C., was presented and approved unanimously as Bangs received glowing marks.
• Bangs Fire Chief Rick Preas spoke of the department’s need for volunteers and equipment, including a ladder truck, but no action was taken.
• The latest sales tax numbers for Bangs saw a January figure of $24,415, an increase of 20 percent from January of 2021. Thus far during the fiscal year, Bangs has received $99,365 in sales tax, up 21 percent from this time a year ago.