News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid gives a dog a treat while at the animal control facility at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Monday.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Fair Board’s plan to host a fireworks show on the last night of this year’s Alpena County Fair was met with some resistance from Alpena residents.

The Fair Board has planned and saved for several years to have fireworks to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the fair, according to a statement released Monday by the board.

During the planning process, the Fair Board considered concerns expressed by residents, primarily over the impact the loud bangs of the fireworks might have on people’s pets and the livestock on site at the fairgrounds, according to the statement. The Fair Board said owners of the animals on display at the fair will remove the animals before the fireworks begin.

“Typically our haul-out time for livestock begins at 10 p.m. on Saturday, but due to the firework show, we will be offering an early haul-out time for any livestock owner that feels their animals would be negatively affected,” the Fair Board said in its statement. “Every one of the Alpena County Fairboard members owns, or have owned livestock, so our first priority of this show was to be sure we would be accommodating for all who will have animals at the fair.”

The statement goes on to say that the Fair Board has worked with a fireworks vendor to craft a fireworks display that is as safe for the animals and the environment as possible.

“We have worked with our firework provider to create a beautiful show that will be much quieter than shows hosted on the 4th of July,” the statement says. “Plus, all of the products are made of biodegradable material.”

Alpena County Animal Control Officer Michelle Reid said not all dogs, cats, and other pets are disturbed by fireworks, but they can traumatize some animals. She said pet owners can identify simple signs to see if the animal behaves irregularly while during fireworks shows.

“It creates an anxious environment for them,” she said. “They may begin to shake, whine, hide, drool, and it just stresses them right out.”

Reid said pet owners can purchase medicine that can reduce pets’ stress level and owners can take other steps to calm their pets.

“Medication can take the edge off and things like keeping lights on and playing music can distract them,” she said. “Having people with them and interacting with them also helps.”

Last week, Fair Board member Mike Arthur asked the Alpena County Board of Commissioners to support the effort to celebrate the historic anniversary and the fireworks.

Arthur told commissioners that the Fair Board has requested a permit from Alpena and filed a plan with the Alpena Fire Department to host the fireworks event.

Before the city can approve the needed permit, Arthur said, the county must present a document to city officials showing commissioners support the fireworks.

Commissioners seemed to support the idea, and final approval could come today.

Arthur said crews likely will launch fireworks from the northeast edge of the fairgrounds, near the playground.

Reid said she applauds the fair milestone, but she also hopes the fireworks don’t have a negative impact on nearby wildlife.

“What about the ducks, geese, swans, and other animals?” she said. “I don’t see how they won’t be impacted in some way. This is a sanctuary, and the ecosystem is very fragile.”

The Fair Board’s statement also addressed other concerns from members of the community, including some who said the Fair Board should use the money for improvements at the fairgrounds.

The statement said that, although the Fair Board does its best to help maintain the fairgrounds before and after the fair, Alpena County, which owns the property and facilities, pays for improvements.

“We work hard each year to do as much as we can to help improve the fairgrounds, but many in the community do not know that the Alpena County Fairgrounds is owned and maintained by Alpena County,” the statement says. “The fairboard only has rights to the fairgrounds one week out of the year, and are very limited on what we can do involving any structure or improvements on the fairgrounds.”