Fireworks ban dampened for now

After discussion, the Hoquiam Council ultimately put off a decision on an ordinance that would have banned all fireworks within the city.

The council had adopted a report from the Public Safety Committee during the action and discussion portion of its Monday meeting, with some members voting for and others against.

An official roll call was not taken as the matter was scheduled to be revisited during legal business later in the meeting.

If the ordinance had passed, all municipal codes allowing for the use of fireworks would have been repealed, except for public displays, which would require permits. Any violations would result in a misdemeanor.

The Public Safety Committee recommended against the ordinance stating, “We are not in favor of the banning of all fireworks, we feel there are adequate laws already on the books.”

Councilman Richard Pennant disagreed with the committee’s recommendation.

“We need to give it a little more credence than the Public Safety Committee is giving it at this point,” Pennant said. “The Fourth of July is one day a year, but when it goes on for five days pretty much unabated, it’s not the Fourth of July — it’s a nightmare for a lot of pets and a lot of senior citizens.

“I would be curious to put it to a vote of the people and see how it comes back.”

Councilwoman Jasmine Dickhoff said she had heard from both sides of the issue and wondered if a compromise could be found.

“Maybe slots away from residential areas, which I think is realistic and mature,” Dickhoff said.

Councilman Paul McMillan, also a member of the committee, said the committee reviewed fire records throughout the last 10 years and pointed out that July 2013 had no fire incidents.

“We did look at that, but we also have to look at what the service organizations do also,” McMillan said. “We just got a new scoreboard and the service organizations helped pay for that, and this is one of their main fundraisers.”

McMillan said there already had been compromises — during McMillan’s tenure on council, the dates for fireworks have been truncated from June 28-July 4 to July 3-4, he said.

“There are laws on the books, and they just need to enforce those,” McMillan said.

Councilman Darrin Moir said the issue “isn’t all about fireworks and scared dogs and nervous elderly people — it’s about safety in general.”

Any ordinance passed would not go into effect until 2016.

Councilman Ben Winkelman moved to table the issue until the second meeting in October so the council could consult the public.

The council unanimously approved Wnkelman’s motion.

Other business

• During a revenue public hearing, Finance Director Mike Folkers presented a rough outline of what to expect from a preliminary budget on Sept. 30.

Current estimations place revenue about even to last year with a slight increase.

• The council approved moving forward with a service agreement between the city and E&F Recovery for EMS billing services.

The current city employee who handles EMS billing is retiring.

Hoquiam will enter into a one-year contract with E&F Recovery, which will handle billing while training new city employees.

“For us to do it in-house, it costs about $30 per call, so this will save us about $8.50 per call, and we anticipate they will generate about $10,000-$15,000 more per year than we can do,” Folkers said. “They know Medicare, they know the codes, and they know the system — it should be a win all the way around.”

• Mayor Jack Durney was authorized to sign a lease with Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League for the use of Olympic Stadium.

City Administrator Brian Shay said the order of field-use priority would be given first to Hoquiam High School, then Babe Ruth, and then Mount Rainier, however, the new league already is planning to schedule around the other teams.

• The council approved the pursuit of a planning grant to review EMS services. Hoquiam plans to apply for the grant with Aberdeen.

Shay received approval to apply for the grant on Oct. 1.

• The consent agenda — including meeting minutes, claims and payroll, and a 1.84-percent increase to sanitation services for the city (not individuals) — was approved.