PORT ANGELES DIGEST: FIRE WORK BAN BY DEFAULT, WILL ANYONE COMPLY?

Editorial Comment: It started back in July of 2014, when a group of citizens wanted to ban the use of private fireworks, because it sounded like a war zone in some cases if not all. Our pal, Lee Whetham, (who served just 15 months on the council, then decided to run for Port Commission, a stepping stone to more important venues according to him.) Was spearheading the effort of imposing a ban on private fire works. After months of public testimony, and many news articles. Which featured the police department's lamentation over enforcement of such an ordinance, Whetham suddenly change his stance seeing that the cops weren't too happy with it, he voted against the ordinance he promoted. And this is the kicker readers, though he voted against the ordinance saying that more discussion need to be done, the supporters of the ordinance he voted against still fawned over him! Can you believe that, it was like, didn't these people just saw what this guy done? That was months ago, now it's July 4th 2015. Because of drought conditions city residences are being ask not to fire off fire works, in essence imposing a fire work ban by default a year early as was indicated by the ordinance they voted on to start in July 2016. Cops are still expressing concerns over enforcement issues, which no one has even started to address. So the lead headline in this week's edition of "Port Angeles Digest" is asking the question, even though there is a ban on private fire works by default due to the drought conditions, will anyone comply. I could swear, I heard fireworks being sounded off in the distance over the past two days leading up today, I can just imagine what will happen this evening, along with the fireworks display which will be going on the waterfront, I can almost hear other fireworks going off in the distance.  So here are the leading headlines this week:

Fire Department Urges Extreme Caution With Fireworks
This is an extraordinarily dry year and the fire danger risk is exceptionally high. The Fire Department strongly recommends that citizens forego the use of personal fireworks and instead celebrate the Fourth of July by attending the public display that will be held on the waterfront.
There are many ways to celebrate the Fourth without exposing yourself and your neighbors to the potential of fire and serious injury through the use of fireworks.
If you feel that you must discharge fireworks, you are asked to do so with extreme caution and follow these basic rules:
DISCHARGE OF FIREWORKS IN THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES IS ONLY LEGAL FROM 9 AM – 11 PM ON THE FOURTH
Under no circumstances allow children to ignite fireworks. It sends a confusing message to children when they are told not to play with fire 364 days of the year and that it is okay on the Fourth of July. Even sparklers are extremely dangerous. A sparkler burns at over 1000 degrees!
Have a hose, a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher immediately available.Do not light fireworks anywhere near dry grass or brush.
Please be considerate of your neighbors. Fireworks are extremely disturbing to many people, pets and people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Never look into a mortar tube.
Duds should be soaked in a bucket of water. Again, we strongly encourage citizens to forego the use of personal fireworks and instead enjoy the public display at the waterfront.
ref. http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=182


Just don't do it': Fire, police officials implore Peninsula residents to refrain from fireworks amid arid conditions---PDN
"Gallagher has long lamented the difficulty of enforcing the ban on use of illegal, non-safe-and-sane fireworks on July Fourth. “I would love to see people just avoid fireworks completely this year,” he said. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict echoed the refrain."

(I just have a hunch this was the real reason why Whetham voted against the ordinance he spearheaded last July.)

Peninsula leaders seek way to ban fireworks during emergency conditions; measures could go into effect no earlier than 2017
Clallam and Jefferson county commissioners and county fire marshals are working to find a way to allow bans of fireworks under emergency conditions, but any such measure couldn't legally go into effect until 2017 at the earliest.---PDN


Fourth of July memories: Fireworks have been one way Port Townsend celebrates
Fourth of July celebrations have been part of local tradition since Port Townsend was founded in the 1850s---PT LEADER


COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Resolution voiding warrants approved June 16 for the City of Port Angeles and the Port of Port Angeles.
Full agenda: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_agenda.pdf
Agenda item details: http://websrv7.clallam.net/forms/uploads/bocc_meeting_packet.pdf
Related stories:
Clallam County to start over on Port Angeles port, city grants after treasurer rejects warrants
PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has hit the reset button on a pair of stalled grants to the city and Port of Port Angeles.---PDN
Commissioners Tuesday voted 3-0 to “take a step back” and send the grant applications back to the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board for a second look.
Commissioner Mike Chapman’s motion to rescind the grants included the withdrawal of two disputed warrants — or checks — for the $1 million grant to the Port of Port Angeles and a $285,952 grant to the city of Port Angeles.
County Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis had rejected the warrants on the grounds that the board did not hold a public hearing or secure written contracts with the port or the city prior to approval.
(I wonder if they go through the motions of having a public hearing on this issue as they should have done in the first place, will Barkuis find another excuse in not releasing the funds?)

Clallam County will ask port and city officials if they would be willing to wait six months to collect commissioner-approved grant money for infrastructure projects.--PDN



IN OTHER LOCAL NEWS


Agree or Disagree?
Per the controversy about the timber land exchange letters of support that Mike Chapman and Dim King Jim McEntire sent behind then Commissioner Mike Doherty’s back----PORT O CALL


Peninsula sees a rising risk of fires
The increasing fire risk tied to abnormally warm and dry weather conditions is igniting concerns statewide, including in Clallam County and Sequim.---SEQUIM GAZETTE


Robert Hall -Hometown Hero
Former Forks resident Robert Hall, who now resides in Bellingham, will be honored with a ride on the Forks Old Fashioned Fourth of July float in the Grand Parade on Saturday. ----FORKS FORUM


Jefferson County road painting to begin July 7
Motorists can expect minor traffic slowdowns during the Jefferson County Department of Public Works Road Operations Division's annual pavement marking slated to begin Tuesday, July 7. The work is expected to be completed by the end of this September.---PT LEADER


FROM ACROSS THE STRAIT
Jack Knox: Activist wants police to weed out Victoria pot shops ---TIMES COLONIST

The B.C. government has asked the province’s ombudsperson to probe a flawed Health Ministry investigation that led to the dismissal of eight drug researchers.----TIMES COLONIST


Breakwater Market targets locals, tourists---VICTORIA NEWS


WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK
CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Civic Field Lighting Project- Local Parks Grant In 2014 the Parks & Recreation Department put in for a Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) Local Parks Grant for the Civic Field Lighting Replacement Project. The project did not get ranked high enough to receive any State funding for 2015 but remained on the RCO grant ranking list. On July 1, 2015, the City of Port Angeles was notified by the RCO that after the State Budget was signed the RCO got its typical amount of funding for grants, plus an additional 38 million to be split into three Recreation Grants. One of the categories that got additional funding was the Local Parks Grant. These added funds allowed additional projects to be funded, including the Civic Field Lighting Project. Total funding amount will be in the amount of $226,500, which is 50% of the total project funding. The City’s 50% match will be $106,500 from Real-Estate Excise Tax, $60,000 from the City’s General Fund, and $60,000 that was donated from the Port Angeles School District. The project should be completed in the Fall of 2016.
Full City Council agenda: http://wa-portangeles.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2301
related news Story: Clallam County to poll port, city of Port Angeles on delay of $1.3 million in grant funds

Related news story: State money will wash across North Peninsula; capital outlay of $753 per person for Clallam, Jefferson in new budget---PDN
"While most people won't see some of the improvements — like the nearly $11.1 million for a security cameras, new roofs, and road repairs and a culvert replacement the Clallam Bay Correctional Center — others will brighten some lives — namely, the $227,000 to replace lights at Port Angeles Civic Field."
 $7 million to remove garbage from an eroding bluff at the now-closed Port Angeles landfill site.
$1.5 million to clean up the former KPly mill site on Marine Drive.
(I call this a lucky break, no one should be trying to claim credit of this in hopes to advance their political aspirations. But I imagine someone will, I can guess I know who will...let's see...

FROM ACROSS THE STRIAT
AGENDA - VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM HIGHLIGHT: Gillian Montgomery, Surfrider Foundation-Vancouver Island Chapter, re: Single-use Plastic Bag Ban (see agenda) 


 Editorial footnote:
Now I am all for freedom of speech and expression. But blowing off fireworks in a middle of a drought is not smart, it's like playing with matches in a barn full of dry hay! There is many ways to show your patriotism for this great nation without blasting off fireworks on you own. Like going to a ball park and taking in a Mariners game, having BBQ's in your back yard, or taking in watching a parade, and fire works which are handled by professionals. At least those fireworks will be done over the harbor. I know some people are not happy with an ordinance that was passed, neither are the cops far as I can tell, because they will be the ones trying to enforce it. So, why make an already difficult situation more difficult by blowing off fireworks in your own back yard to just prove a point? So with that HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL

 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Psalm 33:12 NKJV