The hiring of a budget consultant, former councilwoman Debbie Thurman, was approved by the Elma City Council at their last meeting, held on Aug. 15.

Thurman will be paid up to $1,000 for her consulting services, funds which will come from the mayor’s travel budget. Mayor Jim Sorensen said he doesn’t use his travel budget as he is usually attending official functions regardless.

“Not to mention, I drive a Prius so I can go just about anywhere on very little funds,” Sorensen said.

Thurman, said Sorensen, will help with developing the budget along with city clerk Diane Easton. The mayor’s plan is to have a 2.5 percent general fund ending balance and to have the budget before the Council on Sept. 15. Because the budget needs a review from the finance committee and input from city departments, the mayor said he was under a time crunch to complete the budget while meeting his deadline and could use some assistance.

Thurman’s qualifications, Sorensen said, include her attention to detail and being meticulous with where every penny is spent or saved.

While a couple of council members said they had concerns that, in previous years’ budget discussions, Thurman was not able to provide concrete suggestions as to where to make cuts, only Councilman Pat Miller voted against hiring Thurman.

“We have a tight budget and we don’t need that extra expense,” Miller said in a later telephone interview.

“I don’t have anything against Debbie personally,” he added. Miller, who is on the finance committee, said the mayor and head clerk are tasked with developing the budget and that has been sufficient in the past.

Sorensen said he thought the council had previously approved retaining Thurman at the July 18 city council meeting.

At that meeting, Sorensen was not in attendance, and the council tabled the issue for the August meeting to give the mayor an opportunity to speak. Sorensen said he misunderstood and as such, Thurman had already done some work on the budget.

“She worked part of a day on the revenue side of the budget, and I ask for your forgiveness in that oversight,” Sorensen said.

Fireworks ordinance

An ordinance was introduced limiting the discharge of fireworks to July 3 and 4 and also on New Year’s Eve. Currently, Elma allows the discharge of fireworks on July 5, as well. The council did not take action on the ordinance, which would not become effective until 2018 if approved.

Several citizens in the audience spoke in support of the ordinance citing distress to veterans, the elderly, small children and animals, in addition to the fire and physical dangers caused by fireworks.

Washington state law allows for the discharge of fireworks on June 28 (noon to 11 p.m.), June 29 to July 3 (from 9 a.m. to midnight), and on July 5 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fireworks may also be discharged on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, but cities and towns may set their own limitations.

Crosswalk signals

For his Eagle project, Justin Gay, of Troop 214, requested the approval of yellow, blinking caution lights or crosswalk signals in the school zones at the Elma middle and high schools. Gay said many people ignore the school zones and he’s seen many close calls.

While the council was generally supportive of the idea, it was suggested that more research is needed before the council could take action.

Block party

Laurie Bremer, a citizen of Elma, requested approval for the closure of 14th Street between Martin and Anderson to hold a block party in her neighborhood.

“I see it as a very positive thing to encourage people in the neighborhood to get to know each other,” she said. She did not have a specific date set to hold the party but it would probably be on a Saturday or Sunday. Bremer said she wanted the party to be a fun event but accepted the suggestion that public safety information could be included.

City attorney Dan Glenn said many communities try to encourage these types of events and make the approval process as simple as possible for the applicants. Police Chief Sue Shultz said she was fully supportive as her experience with block parties was nothing but positive.

The council approved the block party, and Bremer will inform the city when she has a firm date.