▶️ Listen to this article now.

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint Independence Day, Inc. has withdrawn its permit application to host any Fourth of July events.

The decision to pull the application follows a 4-2 vote by Sandpoint City Council last week to affirm a denial of their permit, allowing the Sandpoint Lions Club to host the event instead.

"After our appeal last week to the city council, it became extremely clear to us that the city has no intention of following their own rules and policies," Ron Korn, SID president, said in a letter to the city. "SID had plans for events this year that would have exceeded what was an already superior Independence Day in 2020."

Because of the council's decision, SID officials said they could not in good conscience enter into a contract with the city to host events for the holiday.

"We find it unethical and immoral to do business with a corrupt government entity whose elected officials and employees refuse to abide by the policies as written while using the same policies to defer, obfuscate and delay certain volunteer groups who do not align with the administration’s personal politics," the group said in the letter.

As a matter of principle, SID officials said that unless there is a change of administration and elected officials make decisions that do not discriminate based on political agendas, Korn said the group would no longer host any events that require permitting through the city of Sandpoint.

"Independence Day should never have been made a political issue, but the city found a way to make that happen," Korn said in the letter. "We feel our personal politics were a factor in the city’s decision and that is unacceptable for what is supposed to be a non-partisan government entity."

The celebration hosted by SID in 2020 was non-political and, had the group been issued the permit this year, that would have again been the case, SID officials said.

Sandpoint Lions Club will be hosting all Fourth of July events and members said the club is looking forward to providing the community with a great hometown celebration — as it has in the past.

The conflict came after the new group, which hosted the festivities last year, and the Sandpoint Lions, submitted dueling applications for the celebration.

City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton told council members last week it was the first time the city had received two applications for the same event on the same day. The city had directed the two applicants to meet and see if collaboration was possible, Stapleton said, but the groups failed to reach an agreement.

SID told council members last week that based on city code, they should have been granted the permit, which among other things, includes when an application is submitted. SID submitted their application on July 9, while the Lions submitted their application on July 20.

However, Stapleton told the council and SID members that the city special event policy also considers traditional event dates and gives preference to historic hosts.