ML council approves J&M LLC stand

The May 2 Medical Lake City Council meeting was not all summer meeting hours and budget talk.

Council approved the application for J&M LLC to operate a fireworks stand at 111 W. Brooks Road, beginning July 1 at 9 a.m., until July 4 at 8 p.m. The application’s approval was recommended by Fire Chief Jason Mayfield. J&M has operated a fireworks stand in the city during the July 4 holiday for the last several years.

This is the second stand council approved in 2017, the first being from TNT Fireworks back in February. TNT’s stand will be located in the Denny’s Foods parking lot, and is authorized to sell fireworks in the same time frame as J&M.

Both firework stands will operate under the revised city ordinance giving Mayfield the authority to suspend the sale and use of fireworks in the city, should weather conditions create a danger of fire.

Director Karen Langford said accountant Abby Sanders “is working quite well” with staff. Sanders, who is from Petersen CPAs and Advisors out of Yakima, is assisting the city reconcile the issues with the new and old accounting software systems, as well as the annual financial report. After Councilwoman Jessica Roberts asked when the annual finance report would be submitted, Langford said staff could file it after the issues with the software systems are resolved.

“If all else fails, she (Sanders) said we can send in a rough draft to the auditor’s office,” Langford added.

City Administrator Doug Ross said the wetlands north of Fourth Avenue have stopped rising though crews continue to pump water out of the lake. This is a precaution on staff’s part to make sure water does not get into the lift station.

During council reports, Roberts asked if the city ever looked into bringing someone from Spokane County to spray for mosquitos.

Ross said the city had looked into the matter several years ago, but there was not much interest from council back then to pursue it. When he spoke to the state Health Department, officials told him that every person is responsible for preventing mosquito bites and recommended residents dry out or get rid of anything with standing water in it.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.