Letters

Where are we going?

We received one of the most shocking rebukes from our county commissioners that we have ever received in our many years as residents of Whitman County.

Many residents have been concerned with the county obligating our citizens with a $15,000,000 contribution to a project near the Idaho State line. This project has been ongoing for several years and is supposed to create a great deal of revenue in the form of sales tax to the county. The only problem with the project is that it is a very risky commitment of public funds that may or may not generate the anticipated revenues.

County legal counsel has cautioned the commissioners that the project is fraught with potential legal problems and is a dangerous commitment of public funds. Two of our commissioners have chosen to turn a deaf ear to their legal counsel and to several citizens who have expressed their concerns.

Several concerned citizens had read in a local publication that a hearing would be held on the proposal on the morning of January 3, 2012. Many of them appeared at the courthouse only to be told that the meeting had been canceled. They were also told that the only opportunity to speak to the commissioners on the subject would be at the continued commissioner’s meeting that would be resumed at 2:45 p.m. in the commissioner’s chamber.

At 2:45 p.m. approximately 35 or 40 people were in the meeting room. I am certain that most wanted to express their concern about the Hawkin’s project. We were informed by the Chairman, Mr. Partch, that this was a resumption of a Commissioners meeting that they would not be receiving any public comment. They would not even listen to comments from the prosecuting attorney when he attempted to correct them in a matter concerning a legal document.

Two Commissioners then approved the addition of another $6,000,000 to the previous $9,000,000 commitment to the Hawkin’s project.

We were not allowed to speak!

Where are we going with County Government?

Don Deen,

Joe Henderson,

Norm Willson,

all Colfax

Common sense

Concerning Whitman County Commissioners and the Hawkins Corp. on a joint venture to establish a shopping center on the Washington-Idaho line: I am sure pages of legal documents will be produced to insure the legality and financial concern of both parties. It has been established that they who act without knowledgeable legal experience will have fools for clients.

Why are we in such a hurry? Plan the project with common sense.

Gerald Druffel,

Clarkston

Think about it

This letter is about the Ruckelshaus Legislation. This is a law that was passed by a recent legislative session. It is connected to the Growth Management Act and was pushed by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is supposed to be for the good of all. It requires each County to either accept or reject taking part with its program. If they don’t accept they will be required to follow the present requirements. If they do accept they will have some more and stringent requirements. The county commissioners decide which way we go. They have until the twenty second of this month to do that.

I don’t claim to know all about this law but will comment on some things that bother me.

It does increase the power of the EPA. The people that are promoting it talk about wetlands and seem to be obsessed with protecting them.

If they don’t go farther it doesn’t seem as though it would affect us very much.

These hills don’t have many wetlands.

The law itself doesn’t mention wetlands.

It mentions only what they call critical areas.

Wetlands are in their list of critical areas.

They also list aquifer recharge areas.

I don’t know just what that is but it seems it would include the entire county.

If that is so, we all would be subject to their edicts.

Also, I see nothing in the law that says they cannot add to their critical areas list.

If they add “farm land” to the list we would definitely all be subject to their wishes.

If you feel threatened by the fear of lawsuits now, what will it be then? If one fails to comply, and they will be the ones that will decide that, what recourse do they have but the courts? I do think that law says individual farmers will have the option to opt in or not.

My guess is that they will make it unpleasant for those that do not.

And maybe it will be that way for counties that choose not.

The Soil Conservation Districts are included in this program. I have always appreciated their attitude of recommendation rather than commandment for its programs. If they become involved in this program I wonder if that would change. I think we could work with the people there now, but they won’t be there forever.

And then there are the dams. Couldn’t they decide that the river is a “critical area” and require the dams come out to protect the fish?

Probably none of these things would happen, but why make it possible for them to happen? Think about it folks, and if you make a decision let the Commissioners know. It might help them to decide what to do. I know they want to do what is best for us all.

Jack Ensley,

Colfax

Vets request

As the Commander of the American Legion Codd-French Post 41, I can no longer stand by and not make a few comments about Commissioner Partch divulging the names of the indigent veterans that we assisted in their time of need.

Mr. Partch was very negligent when he made public the names of the veterans that received the assistance. One of the veterans that was assisted had four tours of duty in Iraq. Mr. Partch seemed to give the impression that there was not enough money to pay for all that was requested, when he made the statement, “I don’t think we have the funds to cover this amount,” knowing there was $47,000 in the fund and being reminded by Roy Lord, the Adjunct of Post 41. I know this to be a fact, as I was at the meeting with Mr. Lord.

Mr. Partch knows that the names of those receiving assistance are not and should not be made public.

To see that this never happens again, I am asking that all veterans in Whitman County vote against Mr. Partch, should he decide to run for re-election in the forthcoming elections.

Donald R. Henderson, USN (ret)

Colfax

Taxpayer alert

Sometime ago a “traveling salesman” knocked on my door and suggested I invest in a new roof. We finally came to an agreement and signed on the dotted line for 9.1 million dollars. A couple of weeks ago the “traveling salesman returned and said “lady, this is just not enough money for me and I will need 5.9 million dollars more for your project.” I said, “we signed a contract for 9.1 million dollars, I just don’t have the money, but I will see what my banker says.” I told the “traveling salesman” my banker says, “lady, you can’t afford a new roof. I will not fund your project.” Guess it was time to fold up the checkbook and close the door.

To the Whitman County Commissioners, I say “I want your job.” I have no problem telling the “traveling salesman” No. Respectfully to the Taxpayers of our great Whitman County, I say, “put on the coffee, I’ll bring the apple pie, and I will listen.”

Karen Johnson,

Colfax

Huge Problem

The Whitman County Commissioners are stepping way out on this Hawkins project.

As developers know at times it does take the combined efforts of the Public and Private sectors to make development happen for commercial and/or residential construction.

One such project would be the utility expansion from Pullman out to Sunshine Road in the corridor.

This has been talked about for more than 10 years and would cost as much as the Hawkins Infrastructure and open development for more than one property owner.

It would have an area five times larger for commercial development, as well as nearly 1,000 acres to residential subdivision development.

This would be more than enough land for 2 Big Box stores as well as other commercial builders.

Opening land to residential sub-dividing would make more options available to the home building public.

Taxes are also levied every year on the improvements to the land.

One would also expect with the additional available land it would put some downward pressure on the price of building lots.

Instead, the County Commissioners pledge $15,000,000 to an out-of-county developer and out-of-county contractor.

I know what I am talking about because since 1998 I have done or assisted in the completion of zoning and conditional use permits in the Pullman-Moscow corridor for the CKG storage yard that turned into the Maverick Mini Storage, and the Garagmahall, a 20 acre certified inert landfill at the North edge of the corridor and accessed from SR-270, the Atlas Cement plant, the Inert landfill expansion, a for-commercial lot subdivision with site plans and 58 conditional uses approved and listed and ready for a buyer to build, and work on a mineral quarry south of SR-270.

That quarry should have been in operation if it were not for the six-year access issue getting across the Chipman Trail and the expensive demands that Whitman County is putting on the developer to remedy the access without the help of infrastructure reimbursement.

Hawkins get their help up front.

The County Commissioners are setting the taxpayers up for a huge problem. After spending the money what if the retail falls short? It happens!

Gary Kopf,

Benton City

Whitman County Property owner

What happens if

What have our commissioners gotten us into? I for one am not a fan of putting up the money to develop the infrastructure of the proposed state line shopping mall. I believe the commissioners have acted too quickly. What happens if the stores move in, fail and leave?

I know there are a lot of students from our colleges that will spend money, but do they spend money at a home improvement store? Will the stores fail, and leave the county with empty streets at the state line. The commissioners have committed money the county does not have, and are working on a way to find it.

Why not make the same commitment to our parks department? The parks operate on publicly owned land that taxpayers pay hard earned money to maintain. Yet we are now having to pay again to use our parks. What do we need to do to have our parks be self sufficient?

Are we not collecting money to lease out land on top of Steptoe Butte? Where is the money going?

Another question. Do the employees of the communication companies that own equipment on Steptoe Butte have to buy Discovery Passes to go up Steptoe Butte? Shouldn’t the money collected from these leases be going into keeping our parks free to the public?

Sean Storment,

Pullman