PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has updated an antiquated code for pawnbrokers operating in unincorporated areas.
Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to revise chapter 7.02 of the county code to bring it into compliance with state law.
The pawnbroker code had not been changed since it was originally drafted in the 1950s, County Administrator Jim Jones said.
“There are very few things in Clallam County code that we do business licenses for,” Jones said in a public hearing.
“Pawnbrokers is one of them. Junk dealers, second-hand dealers, massage parlors, dance halls and amusement devices are the others. So it was timely. We have a pawn shop opening up.”
Ted Connely, owner of E-Z Pawn at 113 W. First St. in downtown Port Angeles, is opening another pawn shop in a new building east of the city at 2416 E. U.S. Highway 101.
The new E-Z Pawn is at the site of the former New Peking restaurant and lounge, which burned to ashes in a 2011 fire.
“It really is the first pawn shop, at least in my 10 years, that we have had in the unincorporated county,” Jones said.
Out of compliance
Connely told commissioners in a May meeting that the county code was out of compliance with current practice and state law.
“I started working with him,” Jones said.
“He and I worked together” and turned it in to the county prosecuting attorney’s office “to try to update our ordinance to comply with state law and upgrade the item.”
Commissioners approved the code changes with minor revisions suggested by Brian Wendt, civil deputy prosecuting attorney.
Among the changes are the provision that goods must be held for 30 days and that each pawn shop must provide the county with a $10,000 surety bond.
Brian Winters, Connely’s business partner and grandson, testified in support of the code change.
“He and I have been working really hard on this, and we’re really happy with the way things worked out with the county,” Winters said.
“I don’t think anybody even knew there was a pawnbroker ordinance at the county. We sure didn’t.”
Commissioner Bill Peach thanked Jones for “working with somebody from private industry.”
Winters said the new store should be open in about a month.
“It does look really nice,” he said.
“We’re pretty happy with it.”
Korean War veterans
In other board action, commissioners Tuesday presented four Korean War veterans with a proclamation recognizing this week as Korean War Remembrance Week.
More than 6 million Americans served in Korea during the war from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953.
There were 528 Washingtonians killed in action during the war, including six from Clallam County, according to the proclamation.
“We urge all citizens to join in reflecting on the thousands of Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during and after the Korean War,” the proclamation said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
