Town Council agrees to fireworks

The big news about 2018’s July 4th fireworks at the February 13 town council meeting was that Kody Skvaril, Port of Skagit harbormaster, has resigned, to move back to Guam. Mayor Ramon Hayes lamented his loss, saying “Kody was the glue, from the Port side. He knows exactly what to do.”

With only a little discussion, the Council approved a motion by member Bill Stokes to lock in the $10,000 agreement with Western Display Fireworks, of Oregon, to provide fireworks on July 4 from the west side of the Swinomish Channel.

With no fireworks, but only a critical statement from resident Dan O’Donnell that the rate the Swinomish Tribal Community paid for from 2014-16 was too low because a malfunctioning water meter did not accurately measure usage, the Council unanimously passed Mary Wohleb’s motion to set the 2017 Tribal Fair Share for using the sewer utility at $92,675. The Tribe owed $12.92 from the base charge it had paid.

Council approved without dissent its 2018 agreement with EDASC, the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County. They will pay EDASC $2,165 for services marketing La Conner to potential businesses. In making the motion, Wohleb stipulated that EDASC provide “at least an end of year report” of their activities.

The public hearing on the 2018 capital facility plan fizzled, with no citizen participation. Council unanimously agreed to a six-year Capital Facility Plan, through 2023, prepared by Public Works Director Brian Lease, meeting its obligations under the state’s Growth Management Act.

Neither heat nor fire was a part of the discussion before Council unanimously approved its interlocal cooperative agreement for fire marshal services with Skagit County.