The Haines Borough plans to celebrate the municipality’s centennial with an expanded fireworks display, but at least one assembly member is afraid the rockets’ red glare will come too close to home.

On a motion by member Scott Rossman, the assembly Tuesday approved $6,000 for Fourth of July fireworks, double the amount it spent last year. Combined with a matching amount from the Haines Chamber of Commerce, the show promises to be twice as long as last year’s.

“There’s no reason that after 100 years we can’t have a half hour of fireworks instead of 15 minutes,” Rossman said at the end of a meeting where the assembly debated amounts of grants to local non-profit organizations.

“We spend money on a lot of things and everybody has their own version of what’s important or not,” Rossman said. “This is to celebrate the Fourth of July and 100 years.”

The rub for assemblyman Norm Smith, however, is the borough’s current plan is to launch the rockets from the Port Chilkoot Dock. Smith cited a 1988 fire on the dock that destroyed a refurbished historic warehouse while the paint was still wet on the project.

“This was a disaster. Allowing fireworks on a dock we’ve invested $2.5 million in and we’re about to spend another $2 million on sends the wrong message to the public… I think this is a really bad thing to do,” Smith said.

Borough manager Mark Earnest told the assembly that the recent closure of property at Picture Point eliminates the fireworks’ traditional staging site. In the absence of a better alternative, he said he’s recommending use of the dock.

Earnest said in Whittier, where he previously worked, fireworks were blasted from a timber dock as old the borough’s. He said he’d have emergency crews standing by as a precaution.

Smith wasn’t swayed. “Even if we have nine fire trucks and four ambulances down there, this is dangerous and sets a bad precedent for the community.”

With Smith opposed, the assembly voted to alter code to allow a fireworks show there. The code change would allow but not require that the fireworks be shot from the dock.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the former City of Haines. Mayor Jan Hill Tuesday appointed an ad hoc committee to organize festivities including museum curator Jerrie Clarke and tourism director Lori Stepansky.

Residents are invited to join the effort. The celebration will kick off on the Fourth of July.