UNION GAP, Wash. -- On Wednesday, Union Gap Mayor Jim Lemon believed this year's lighted Christmas parade was canceled. A day later, he began singing a different tune.

"I feel a lot better now," he said. "The town deserves a parade."

The event, in its sixth year, is being delayed a week to Dec. 18. Union Gap resident Mike Brown stepped forward to plan it after hearing the former volunteer organizers had quit.

He's now preparing fliers to distribute to participants in the upcoming Yakima and Sunnyside lighted parades, hoping to draw interest. The parade usually features about 30 entries, ranging from floats and antique tractors to cars and school bands.

As a further incentive, he said the typical $50 entry fees won't be charged this year.

While the lighted parade is a go, the accompanying bazaar has been canceled. That event, held at Ahtanum Park last year, regularly included arts and crafts and photos with Santa and live reindeer.

Brown said there is some stress involved in organizing the lighted parade at the last minute, but that's minimized when he considers how much it means to the community.

"Budgets are tight," he said. "The community needs to know that they need to step forward if they want to see events like this continue."

While last-minute help came through for this year, city leaders don't know who will organize next year's holiday celebration and Old Town Days -- a two-day event in June that features a car show, parade and lip-synch contest. The summer festival regularly attracts 3,000 to 4,000 people, and planning for it begins in January. The city itself has a population of about 5,900 residents.

Up until now, the volunteer group Citizens for Union Gap's Future had organized the events. Led by four women, members said they resigned in October because they felt Lemon was micromanaging them. Lemon disagreed, saying he was trying to ease their burden by recruiting new members.

Since then, the City Council has expressed interest in having Tourism Director Scott Steinloski take the helm.

That's led to yet another problem.

Steinloski is a contract employee, earning $60,000 a year from the city's hotel and motel taxes. He said event planning isn't within his job description and he wants added compensation to spearhead Old Town Days and the holiday celebrations.

He said he will craft a proposal and present it to the council early next year. He hasn't decided on a figure, but knows it will exceed $7,500.

"It's kind of like having a general contractor and a house plan," he said. "If you add a bedroom, the cost will go up. I'm a contractor, not an employee."

The work would be funded from a mixture of hotel and motel tax proceeds and the city's general fund. The two funding sources already cover other incidentals, such as marketing and police control.

Some council members aren't keen on giving Steinloski more money, believing the work falls within his existing responsibilities. A final decision will take place in January when new council member Chad Lenz is sworn into office.

If there's interest from the community, there's also the chance volunteers will assume responsibility for the festivals, Lemon said.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.

Union Gap Lighted Christmas Parade

WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 18

WHERE: The parade begins at the Pepp'rmint Stick Drive-in at 4002 Main St., heads north on Main Street and ends at the Community Tree across from Canopy Country RV, 2904 S. Main St. Part of Main Street will be closed during the parade, but detours will be available.

INFORMATION: Mike Brown, 509-453-6871.