Port seeks $2 million: County worries loan to port would tie up Hawkins funds

Worried about tying up funds saved for the Hawkins mall, Whitman County commissioners questioned Monday whether or not to grant a $1 million loan request from the county port district.

Port commissioners requested the county lend them $1 million to help provide cash liquidity for potential economic development projects that may be soon in the works. The port requested funding from the county’s stash of .09 economic development funds.

Debbie Snell, port properties and development manager, said the port is now short on cash because of ongoing large projects like the fiber optic connection from S...