David Hett of Hett Construction, who will co-sponsor the event with Tampa State Bank, said the display would begin with "five salutes" of fireworks, one for each year of the new century, to be followed "with a volume of pretties."

He said one salute will be added each year with the fireworks a continuing tradition in Marion.

"We ought to have quite a show by 3000 for those of us who are still around."

City Administrator David Mayfield asked Hett to cooperate with Police Chief Michel Soyez in keeping people cleared from the detonation area.

Hett said he could provide barrels and tape lines to keep the area safe. He said Michael Fruechting, who has a fireworks permit, already has checked to get fireworks from the same people who provided for the county Labor Day fireworks.

Ignition will be electronic instead of by fuse, Hett added.

Asked about county reaction to a display, Margo Yates of the Chamber of Commerce said the county only wants to make sure fireworks don't land on the courthouse roof.

Former Mayor Eloise Mueller appeared as chair of the Marion Economic Development Advisory Board to hand commissioners results of a survey of Marion residents, and report activities.

She outlined a MEDAB history of attempting to retain and support existing businesses while recruiting new businesses.

She said efforts continue to bring new businesses into the industrial parks.

Commissioner Jim Crofoot commended Mueller and her committee for "a good job trying to keep things moving; it's a tough job."

The commissioners voted 2-1 to have Tice succeed Crofoot as city commission member on MEDAB, with Tice the dissenting vote.

The commissioners reviewed a water-plant engineering contract with engineers from the firm of Bucher, Willis and Ratliff.

The discussion ended with City Attorney Dan Baldwin retiring with the engineers for discussion of contract wording. Of concern were items such as lack of written agreement for assumed measures for designing for ozone treatment that actually would not be added to the plant until the city has money for it in several years.

Mayfield said that by request, Bill Howgill of Westar Energy will be added to a February meeting agenda to present a second contract proposal that might add Marion to a municipality pool for electrical use with several other cities.

Mayfield announced that city offices will be closed Friday and next Monday for Christmas with the regular city meeting postponed to Tuesday.

They ended the meeting with a 20-minute executive session for personnel with no announcement afterward.