PORT McNEILL—Fireworks funding from the Town of Port McNeill is back to its 2009 level.
Council voted to contribute $2,000 toward the fireworks display put on each Halloween by the Port McNeill Volunteer Fire Department, one year after choosing to cut the town’s aid to $1,000. It was not a unanimous decision, and even among those in favour there was some reluctance.
“Are you a fireworks fan?” Mayor Gerry Furney asked. “I’m not. It’s one heck of a lot of cash to burn off in a half hour.”
But Furney also cited the time and energy put into the show by the volunteers and its importance to youngsters in the community, who are treated to hot cocoa and hot dogs along with a roaring bonfire in the parking lot of the Community Centre.
He ultimately joined councillors Aaron Frost and Shirley Ackland in approving the $2,000. Coun. Gaby Wickstrom agreed the town should contribute, but voted against the amount.
“I’m looking at all the cutbacks we’ve made this year; we didn’t fund Communities in Bloom. I’d be more comfortable with last year’s amount.” Council cut its 2010 contribution in half in the wake of September floods which left most of the residents of Kingcome Inlet in shelters in Alert Bay, saying it seemed inappropriate to spend that amount while some were suffering.
