The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Citizens in Electric City could find their future July 4 plans for explosives thwarted if the city council adopts a new law banning fireworks.

The Electric City council discussed adopting such an ordinance at their July 9 council meeting.

Councilmember Rich McGuire brought the idea up, citing Coulee Dam’s similar code banning fireworks in that city.

Councilmember Lonna Bussert described fireworks debris being left behind in the triangle-shaped parking area outside city hall.

A man in the audience added that the fireworks went on for over three hours on the night of the Fourth.

A formal complaint from citizen Alan Oneal was included in the council’s agenda packet.

“People lighting fireworks off in my neighborhood could have caused a fire,” the complaint reads, citing fireworks debris found in his yard, and on his house and vehicles. “I believe this needs to be stopped before someone’s house burns down.”

Councilmember Aaron Derr suggested getting community input on the topic.

However, a motion passed to have City Clerk Russ Powers draw up a draft of an ordinance banning fireworks from the city outright, to be approved or denied at a later council meeting.

That motion passed 3-1, with Derr voting against it.

Electric City was the only local town this year without a ban on them, simply following state law which allows fireworks to be discharged at certain times, such as the Fourth of July.

Grand Coulee last year passed an ordinance banning them except on North Dam, but fireworks in that area have since been forbidden by the federal government. Elmer City follows tribal code, which doesn’t allow fireworks to be discharged on the Colville Reservation except in designated areas.