Washington shoots down firework contract

WASHINGTON — City Council members ended a three-year contract with J & Displays early, saying at a Tuesday night meeting they were unimpressed with this year’s Fourth of July firework show.

“I had a lot of people say they were really disappointed this year,” council member Elaine Moore said. “I personally did not attend, but they did voice their opinions.”

Despite initial hesitation about abandoning the contract before lining up a replacement, the council resolved to act fast, citing a clause in the J & contract that set a deadline of 30 days after a show to re-evaluate the agreement.

“We could end up going to the drawing board with no one else available and then, with our tail between our legs, going back to J & , losing some of that rapport,” Mayor Jaron Rosien said. “There is a plan in the back of my head to look out for potential vendors, that may or may not come to fruition.”

Council member Illa Earnest defended the pyrotechnic company’s performance, but sided with the rest of the council to end the contract.

“In their defense, we’re competing with a really humongous fireworks display to the south,” she said. “I do not know where he got the stuff, but (the budget was) more than ours. You can’t buy that kind of bang for your buck.”