County meets on Hawkins project

Whitman County commissioners Monday discussed the Hawkins Companies of Boise development on the state line between Pullman and Moscow. The commissioners discussed the proposal in an executive session.

“We’re working on the issue,” said Commissioner Art Swannack. “We’re having some conversations about it but there’s no conclusions. We’re exploring options.”

A representative from Hawkins was not present at the Monday session.

The initial agreement with the county called for Hawkins developers to built on 114 acres of land along the Moscow-Pullman Highway just west of the state line.

The 714,000-square-foot shopping center site agreement with the county calls for the Hawkins to build the infrastructure, including roads and utilities, with the ownership of that infrastructure to be transferred to the county upon completion. The county agreed to reimburse Hawkins for construction costs for that infrastructure.

Last year, the Hawkins company said it had a firm commitment from Lowes Home Improvement store and one other big box store to occupy a building no smaller than 100,000 square feet.

The county initially agreed to pay Hawkins $9.1 million to reimburse infrastructure construction costs, but last year the parties amended the agreement to increase that amount to $15 million. County commissioners voted two-to-one to increase the agreement.

Approval of the revised Hawkins agreement became a key topic in last year’s commissioner races, and the two commissioners to favored it, Pat O’Neill and Greg Partch, were defeated. Commissioner Michael Largent voted against the agreement. Despite his no vote Largent was named late last year to head a committee to negotiate with Hawkins.

The revised Hawkins agreement also became a the subject of a suit filed by area residents from the Organization to Void Illegal Conduct. The suit asked the court to undo the agreement for the $15 million county contribution.

Action on the suit has been stalled since the county voters ousted O’Neill and Partch.

In November, county commissioners formed a new committee to negotiate with Hawkins for a possible second amendment.

The committee is led by Largent, with Public Works Director Mark Storey overseeing the work done under the contract, Prosecutor Denis Tracy providing legal review and Administrator Gary Petrovich in charge of financial agreements.