Gratis fireworks ripoff

[Surge911]

How is it that the Gratis store can charge you 5 bucks to park your car at the Walton County park that you have already paid for once via tax dollars. Also with those prices… what are they now Six Flags!

[Shane Stud]

I paid 5 bucks too. Who got the money? The Walton County Board of Commisioners or the Parks and Recreation Dept. or was it just someone scamming taxpayers? Can anyone identify the person that took the money up? I did not know them myself but I will do some asking around. This is ridiculous and should be investigated by law enforcement.

[Campton Resident]

Don't worry. I talked with my commissioner this morning and he said he would get with the Sherriff on Monday morning and they will get to the bottom of this. He agreed with me that it was a crime for someone to pull this on the taxpayers of Walton County. He thought the individuals taking money have already been identified which should make getting top the bottom of this much easier. I'll let you guys know what he says on Monday.

[Surge911]

Any news?

[Campton Resident]

Heck no! Haven't recieved a call as of 10:30pm. It's a bit late so I guess my commisioner is waiting until tomorrow morning to give me a call. He seemed upset that taxpayers were being ripped off and I'm sure he will get to the bottom of this mess. Maybe tomorrow.

[Angry citizen]

Surge911, Your commissioner is Gerald Atha. He has the sheriff investigating other things. Maybe to the extent he is not paying attention to running his own department. Atha himself has an agenda. All it took to get him into action was the accusation that Parks and Rec. may have been involved in this. If you really want something to read, go to Fox News.com/I-Team/Wounded Warrior. Then ask your commissioner to investigate that.

[Steve]

The county commissioner for the Gratis community is not Gerald Atha, it is Lamar Palmer, but don't expect any action from him, for sure.

[Angry citizen]

Steve wrote:

The county commissioner for the Gratis community is not Gerald Atha, it is Lamar Palmer, but don't expect any action from him, for sure.

Sorry Steve, my mistake. I was responding to "Campton Resident" who is the only one who made reference to his commissioner. Since he implies he lives in "Campton" he is in Atha's district.

[who cares]

Well if you go to six flags don't you pay to see there fireworks? Next time bypass Gratis and go somewhere else to watch fireworks, they had to charge so they could put on the $15,000 show!!!!!!

[Surge911]

I think it is the other way around. They put on the show so they can gouge families out of their money.

[Jeff67]

I called 911 the same night of the fireworks. Filed a complaint and I also went to the county commissioner. Nothing has been done.

[Jeff67]

I also called Bryan at gratis store and asked about the $5.00 charge. He got irrate, cursing and hung up on me every time I tried to ask him about this. He also had a female call me back saying she was with the Monroe police department but come to find out it was some girl there at the store not a police officer. This is impersonating a police officer. If Bryan didn't do anything wrong why come he got all upset. Why not just answer my question.

[who cares]

Well u know Joe Chapman was there that night watching the show. He too paid the $5 for the fire works. I haven't ever seen so many old people complain about this before on a website. I guess yall wierdo's have nothing better to do then complain about this. Oh and by the way I have never seen Brian cuss. Your lying trying to make your story better!!

[gracious]

Surge911 wrote:

I think it is the other way around. They put on the show so they can gouge families out of their money.

Don't you realize that Gratis has to pay the Church and the families for allowing people to park on their property...
So think of it this way, you pay your $5.00, you get to enjoy time with family and friends while listening to a live band (that Gratis pays for), your children get to play, you are 100 feet or less from great food and cold drinks (or you can bring your own food and drinks. Most places make you buy their over priced concessions) and to top it off you get a full blown fireworks show ($10,000+).
To me that is well worth the $5.00. But like I have learned in the past, there will always be a complainer... no matter how good something is.

[Gratis]

Gouge families out of their money???? Where does the money come from to put this show on? Who pays for the fireworks, the inflatables for the kids, the band, the gas money to cut the grass for parking, the caution tape to rope off the areas for parking, who puts in hours and hour of work for this event??? Who? Do you really know all of this? Do you have a clue????

Surge911 wrote:

I think it is the other way around. They put on the show so they can gouge families out of their money.

[Michael Edwards]

my understanding was that the parking fee for the fireworks was collected by the fire company each year as a fundraiser for a specific cause, like the life saving piece of equipment they bought for the nearest hospital a couple of years back. I think it's a grand idea.

[Rick67]

I've been going to the Gratis fireworks for six years and have yet to pay for parking. I always park in the field at the corner of Mount Vernon and Gratis.

[bold springs]

Michael Edwards wrote:

my understanding was that the parking fee for the fireworks was collected by the fire company each year as a fundraiser for a specific cause, like the life saving piece of equipment they bought for the nearest hospital a couple of years back. I think it's a grand idea.

wrong the fire company has nothing to do with any of this........

[Brian's mother]

You can gripe all you want but Brian has to charge to have the money to buy the 20,000.00 plus fireworks that he has to BUY every year.....not counting what he has to pay the band....and like someone else said....cutting all that grass and ALL the other expenses involved....if it is so hard to pay the 5.00 to park I suggest you stay home....there are enough people that appreciate it...someone will be glad to take your spot!!!!!!! Oh and Brian does not curse @ anyone....he is one of the few good guys left!!!!!! His mother will cuss you in a minute !!!!!!

[Brian's mother]

who cares wrote:

Well if you go to six flags don't you pay to see there fireworks? Next time bypass Gratis and go somewhere else to watch fireworks, they had to charge so they could put on the $15,000 show!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!