Members of the Vader City Council met on Wednesday, Feb. 4, for their first regular meeting of the month at Vader City Hall.
During the meeting, councilors approved purchasing special event insurance for the city’s upcoming annual May Day event and parade. The council also discussed plans for the annual Fourth of July fireworks and car show — which will coincide with the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th birthday this year.
Vader Mayor Joe Schey also gave an update on the status of the city’s Water Utility Action Plan, which it recently submitted to both Lewis County and Washington state Department of Health (DOH) officials for review.
If approved, the Water Utility Action Plan allows county officials to transfer back control of the water system to the City of Vader public works staff.
“Originally, (DOH) put they’d get back to us by March. They got back to us much quicker than that, obviously,” Schey said during his mayor’s report. “They are requesting some more information (be) added to the water system action plan we sent them. That work is in progress.”
Lewis County staff have operated Vader’s water system since 2010, when a Lewis County Superior Court order gave county officials control of Vader’s water system due to the city’s financial instability — on top of failing to secure grants or loans to fund badly needed water system upgrades, which led to at least 17 boil water advisories between 2006 and 2010, as previously reported by The Chronicle.
As for agenda items, councilors were asked to begin reviewing the first two chapters in Vader’s municipal code to see if any updates or amendments are needed, with Vader city staff also comparing the code to neighboring communities including Winlock and Toledo.
Schey stated the purpose was to try to save the city consultant fees for reviewing and updating municipal code, and added any proposed amendments would be sent to the city attorney for review first before being brought before the council for a vote.
As for the May Day festival preparations, councilors unanimously approved purchasing special event insurance for the festival, coming at a total cost of $460.35.
Planning for the city’s annual Fourth of July “Red, White and Boom” was also discussed, with the council approving event flyers for advertising.
Scheduled for Saturday, July 4, the event will feature a car show, live music, a beer garden, local food and craft vendors, a cornhole tournament, an apple pie contest to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and the fireworks show at the end of the night.
City staff are also taking applications for event vendor permits, with non-food vendor permits costing $55 for those with a business license and $65 for those without one, and $30 for nonprofit organizations. Food vendor permits are $100. For non-food vendors, staff are looking for “all types of handmade vendors,” according to the flyer.
For more information on getting a vendor permit for Vader’s “Red, White and Boom” Fourth of July celebration, email vaderadmin@vaderwa.org.
