Soap Lake gives $100,000 to lava lamp

SOAP LAKE — In a special noon session Monday, Soap Lake City Council members agreed to allocate $100,000 in tourism funds for construction of the 50-foot-tall motion lamp.

On Wednesday, the council rejected a similar funding proposal in a 4-3 vote. Now, the entire council has voted in favor of spending nearly half of the $206,000 the city has saved in tourism account funds to erect the motion lamp.

"We needed to warm to the idea," said council member Barney Berg, who was one of four votes against the funding proposal last week.

Berg wanted assurances private monetary contributions and project committee fund-raising would continue if the city was going to make $100,000 available for the project. He said it may require from $130,000 to $200,000 to complete the project.

The city donated land earlier this month along South Canna Street to build the motion lamp.

Supporters of the project touted a boost in tourism to the city and are hoping to have the lamp in place by early summer.

— Staff report