SpringDale Town Council Elections 

Since we live in the fire risk zone too, our hearts go out to the families in California that have lost their homes. When the smoke boiled over the ridge west of my home two years ago, I could feel a small part of the what they must have felt.

It’s an ill wind that blows no good at all. Although the smoke from the California fires has even filled Zion Canyon, hundreds of miles away, with smoke, it also created one of the most colorful sunrises I’ve seen in quite a while here. Click here for a larger version.

The fire two years ago that threatened three communities here in Color Country (Virgin, Rockville, and Springdale) was the kind of mountain consuming fire that we’re seeing in California. But we had a fire of a much different kind on the Fourth of July this year.

Springdale has had a tradition of showing fireworks in the canyon on the Fourth for many years. It’s quite a show and the sound booms off the canyon walls in a way that is hard to describe. In spite of tinder dry conditions, the decision was made to go ahead with the show again this year.

The resulting fire burned through some of the nicest pinion and juniper forest above the Town Park and Canyon Community Center. The naturalist at Zion Park confirmed that several rare desert tortoises had been killed too. Homes and, in fact, the very heart of Springdale were at serious risk.

It’s worth noting that our local firefighters did a heroic job, not only of leaping on the fire as soon as it started and fighting it through the night. But, in addition, they were prepared in advance. It was easy to predict the hillside that was at risk so they pre-wetted it and had hoses and trucks pre-positioned. I hesitate to think what might have happened if they had not been so far-sighted and well prepared.

The bottom line is that the mistake was a political one. The “troops” on the ground did a great job. The commanders were the ones at fault.

The next Town Council meeting was packed with citizens who wanted to know what was going to be done about it. Mayor Pat Cluff made it clear that no decision would be made that evening because any decision should be a considered judgement, not one made while emotions ran high.

Fair enough. But the issue came up again during “Meet the Candidates” night this week. Last July, the citizens of Springdale were promised an answer. We learned this week that a commitee had now been formed.

Pardon me, but THAT’S NOT AN ANSWER. Just to be clear about my position, I WANT THE FIREWORKS BANNED.

Here is my summarization of the candidates’ positions on this as presented at the meeting this week. (If my summarization isn’t right, please let me know.)

Louise Excell was on the Council when the decisions were made. Louise sincerely apologized to the community and pledged to “take this type of decision much more seriously in the future.” I didn’t hear the words, “Ban the fireworks” but she came very close to it.

Jack Fotheringham was the most direct in stating that the fireworks tradition should be continued. He said that better preparations to prevent a fire should be used in the future. Jack! I have a hard time imagining what else might be done. We had firefighters that came up from the bottom of the hill to fight this thing! Enough is enough!

Cheryl Ann Frassa was most direct in stating that fireworks were simply too risky in a place like Springdale. Good for you, Cheryl! I remember Cheryl stating clearly and directly in the Council meeting after the Fourth that she wanted to be involved in making the decision about what to do in the future. But last week, she said she had no knowledge that a committee had been formed and she wanted to know how these things were done without letting people know. Good question!

Jon Michael Marriott said that the primary concern of the community should be safety and that should also be the primary factor in making a future decision. I didn’t hear the words, “Ban the fireworks” from Jon either! In fact, I didn’t hear Jon make a decision.

Stan Smith let us know that a committee had been formed to make a decision and he was in favor of allowing this process to arrive at the best decision. That was good information, but I was more interested in what Stan thought about it, not report of Council events.

This is how they stack up, neighbors. Here’s your chance to help decide what happens on the NEXT Fourth of July!