LAKEPORT ? The Lakeport Fire Protection District Chief said he would have difficulty adequately protecting the city if Measure C passes, while the Clear Lake High School Booster Club president said the district should be able to handle safe and sane fireworks.
Measure C will be on the ballot inside Lakeport city limits for the election Tuesday. If passed, the measure would require the city manager to issue permits to sell state fire marshal-approved, safe and sane fireworks to no more than four qualified nonprofit organizations, according the voter”s pamphlet. More than 2,600 voters will have the opportunity to vote on the issue.
“If this measure does pass it ties my hands,” Fire Chief Ken Wells said. “I will no longer be able to advise the council of a bad fire season.”
Safe and sane fireworks can start fires and children especially have the potential to hurt themselves, Wells said.
Booster Club President Tom Jordan said he is concerned about fire safety but historically legal fireworks haven”t caused many fires in the county.
“If Wells can”t handle the low level of fireworks and the potential of having a fire, I would say he can”t handle anything,” Jordan said.
Currently groups have to get firework sale permits signed by different Lakeport officials, including Wells, who didn”t sign any this year, he said.
The measure would impose a number of restrictions on firework sales and require vendors to collect and pay the city a 5-percent surcharge of sales that”s aimed to help Lakeport pay for a safe Independence Day, according to the voter”s pamphlet.
Wells said his district is a separate entity from the city, so the surcharge would go to the city general fund, not directly to fire protection.
The county has banned fireworks for more than 10 years and Lakeport would be the only place to buy fireworks if the measure passes, Wells said.
“Safe and sane fireworks don”t stop at city limits,” he said.
Wells thinks people from outside Lakeport would buy the fireworks and use them across the county, he said. He doesn”t think he, other fire districts, police and the sheriff”s office have funding to oversee safe firework use added to everyday responsibilities, he said.
“We have no enforcement at all,” Wells said. “We just don”t have the staff.”
Wells said Lakeport looks like a “war zone” after Independence Day with smoke and debris.
Wells thinks students deserve funding, but he thinks they can put in some effort and raise the money another way.
“I do support the youth groups, but I think people should give them money directly and cut out the middle man, TNT,” Wells said.
He thinks it”s odd TNT Fireworks sent out five mailers as of Friday depicting children who need program funding, Wells said. The fire district didn”t have money for professional mailers, just a few fliers.
Wells also thinks children should do the work for their fundraisers, such as selling cookies and raffle tickets. Children can”t work in fireworks booths, so parents and adult volunteers do all the sales.
Jordan said fireworks sales have been the primary funding for Lakeport youth programs. The Booster Club usually makes $15,000 from the sales.
“Nobody has come up with a substantial fundraising solution,” Jordan said.
The Booster Club pays for off-campus student enrichment activities such as student conferences, youth camps, grants and other academic sources as well as sports transportation and uniforms, Jordan said.
Fireworks are a city, family and American tradition, Jordan said. He thinks firework sales would also benefit business.
“It”s the economic prosperity or opportunity fireworks give to merchants of the city of Lakeport not just to buy fireworks, to stay overnight,” Jordan said.
As Wells did in 2008, Jordan said the fire chief could approach the nonprofits and ask them not to sell fireworks if the fire danger is too high.
Jennifer Hanson, president of the Lake County Channel Cats, said if Measure C doesn”t pass, she doesn”t think Wells will allow permits to sell fireworks.
Hanson said fireworks are the core fundraiser for her organization, making up to $15,000 a year that goes to the city pool.
“Without the fireworks funding our program is going to be seriously injured,” Hanson said.
The Lakeport Kiwanis Club had a pancake breakfast where they raised $4,000, not enough to recoup for the loss of fireworks funding, Hanson said.
“It”s difficult to come up with other fundraisers at these times because everybody is so strapped,” Hanson said.
“I”ve always been about the kids,” Hanson said. “It”s very frustrating.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
