Soap Lake council votes to replace downtown holiday decor
While it may not look like much now, Main Street in Soap Lake will be glowing with lights and Christmas decor in the next couple of months.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The gazebo at the intersection of Main and Canna Streets in Soap Lake will feature a new 15-foot tall inflatable Christmas tree thanks to the city council approving a request for funds to replace current holiday lights and decor that are worn out.
SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council passed a motion Wednesday night to approve the use of tourism funds to pay for the replacement of holiday lights and decorations for the downtown area.
“You saw what Ephrata looked like last year, you guys; we can't let them do this to us,” said council member Kayleen Bryson in the meeting.
Bryson introduced the agenda item to attendees of the meeting. She explained that the lights they put up on the poles last for about three years before needing to be replaced.
She asked Nel Kovach to explain more in-depth about the breakdown of what was requested for replacement.
Kovach said city staff would like to request:
• Replacement of the commercial grade string lights for poles on Main Avenue - 45 total, $900
• 14 more sets of lights for the north end of Division Street - $280
• A 20-foot Christmas tree that connects to the flagpole on Main Avenue - $325
• A 15-foot tall inflatable Christmas tree for the gazebo at the intersection of Main Avenue and Canna Street - $380
• Wreaths and lights for Daisy Street - $180
• Installation items such as extension cords and cable ties - $125
The total cost for replacement is about $2,300.
Kovach said there’s not much the city can do to decorate Daisy Street, which is the main road through Soap Lake, for the holidays. There are no electrical outlets on the light poles for lights and the brackets for banners on many of the poles are missing or hidden from view by trees.
Kovach said they are considering hanging solar fairy lights and wreaths on those poles as a good alternative.
“(The poles) are just impossible to run lights up and so I think the fairy lights and wreaths, it will look cheerful,” said Bryson.
Bryson and Kovach said these lights would do better than banners anyway because the banners wouldn't be visible at night, and might get blown away or damaged in the wind.
A motion was made by council member Kat Sanderson and seconded by council member Bill Bratton. The motion passed unanimously by the council.
“I would just like to add that this is for this year,” said Kovach. “We have to replace the lights but just keep in mind every couple of years we’re going to need to replace things, we’re going to need to replace lights. This is not a one-time hit; it will be sort of ongoing. Maybe not as much every year.”
Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at rpettingill@columbiabasinherald.com.
