By JAMES EIK
Staff reporter
The Airway Heights City Council passed an ordinance which restricted the locations fireworks may be used by the public. The council suspended its rules of procedure at its June 20 meeting in order to make the ordinance effective five days after its passage.
Marked by a unanimous vote, the ordinance prohibits fireworks from being launched on public land. Only private property and parking lots that have sought permission from the property owner will be able to launch fireworks.
City Attorney Stanley Schwartz said that the council can waive the rules when needing to take action on a pending ordinance.
One comment from a resident included a question posed to the council. In RCW 70.77, there are different types of listed fireworks. Two types, consumer and display fireworks, are the most available commercial products. He noted that the city requires a permit to launch display fireworks, and suggested that last year's displays were illegal.
When questioned if that was the correct interpretation of the law, Schwartz responded, “I agree that you read it correctly, yes.”
Public comments on the potential loss of the long-held tradition lasted for well over 30 minutes. Most of the residents in attendance were opposed to the idea of banning fireworks in the city, despite safety concerns and difficulties mentioned earlier by the fire department.
One resident, James Thomas, said that launching fireworks in Airway Heights is what makes the city unique, and that banning them would only create more enforcement difficulties.
“You can make all the laws, but all it'll create is more work for the police officers,” he said. “As long as you keep the main riffraff down, most people are responsible and watch where their fireworks go.”
Others suggested that inmates at the jail could clean up the leftover fireworks, and that tow trucks could be used to solve parking problems on the streets.
Ross Pedersen, another resident, was also in favor of keeping the fireworks.
“I understand safety, but soon we're going to be living in a glass bottle,” he said.
Although many were in favor of retaining fireworks usage in Airway Heights, a suggestion was made to have the fireworks be a controlled, professional display.
The city's fire department, in a presentation before public comments, said that there were three probable solutions: a complete ban, restricting usage or maintain the current system. Fire Chief Thomas Ledgerwood noted that members of the fire department receive holiday pay for their service on July Fourth.
Councilman Matthew Pederson raised a request to clarify a portion of the ordinance which noted where fireworks could not be used.
Many also stated that this was a large family event, with many people coming into town from out of state just to partake in the day's events.
Also discussed at the council meeting were possibilities on what to do with the community recycling center's usage. Photos of the center's current state were distributed to council members before the meeting and highlighted the growing abuse of the system.
The council said that most of the problems likely stem from non-residents using the center for their own trash. Items found in the recycling center could be classified as common household garbage. Initial suggestions of cutting the service were met with negative reaction from those in attendance. Other discussions explored curbside recycling service and creating an additional set of recycling bins in a different area.
Mayor Patrick Rushing said that he doesn't believe the city should have a mandatory recycling ordinance, but said that he would push for a curbside recycling program.
The final business of the night was recognition of retiring Fire Chief Ledgerwood. After nearly 13 years of service to Airway Heights, Ledgerwood will hand the job to Mitchell Metzger, who comes to the city after six years with Spokane County Fire District 8.
James Eik can be reached at [email protected].
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