Commissioners await Hawkins revisions review

Prosecutor Denis Tracy continued his review of the contract amendment proposed to Whitman County by Boise-based Hawkins Companies for the development deal of a stateline shopping center.

Commissioners had a possible vote on the amendment to a $15 million development deal scheduled for Monday. That passed, though, as they decided to wait for Tracy’s review.

The amendment changes a deal approved by the county in January which obligates the county to fund $15 million worth of infrastructure at the company’s long-proposed 714,000-square-foot shopping center. That was an increase from the $9 million deal approved by commissioners in 2008.

The new amendment is aimed at alleviating concerns that prompted the Organization to Void Illegal Conduct to file an injunction suit against the county and Hawkins.

OVIC is asking superior court to invalidate the deal, claiming it would require the county spend public money on private infrastructure, that the agreement should be nullified because Hawkins is not a Washington-licensed contractor and that commissioners Pat O’Neill and Greg Partch agreed upon the deal after illegal secret meetings.

Commissioners have said they may send a counter proposal to Hawkins that would forbid the company from suing the county if it cannot come up with the $15 million.

The January deal was approved by commissioners O’Neill and Partch without a review by Tracy. Commissioner Michael Largent voted against the contract.