Protests continue against Port of Whitman

PULLMAN - Pullman residents gathered at Cougar Plaza, Davis Way, and Grand Avenue on Monday, April 10, to protest the Port of Whitman County's rezoning of land near Old Wawawai Road for an Agricultural Advancement Campus.

Protest Organizer Janelle Sordelet stated that protesters have been writing opposition letters and attending all of the Port's meetings.

"The rezone is still happening," Sordelet said, adding that those protesting do not like that the Port's plans to make a zoned residential area, industrial.

According to Sordelet, the Port had said there would be a vote at the last meeting, but Port of Whitman County Commissioner Kammerzell was absent, so they didn't have it on their agenda.

Sordelet said protestors attended the meeting and that the Port wants to continue the rezoning process.

She further stated that the protestors want the Port to know that the three Port commissioners gained an average of 6,200 votes to get their positions. In contrast, the total number of signatures on their first petition addressing AgTech OS's former partnership with the Port was far higher.

Sordelet also stated that the community of Pullman is concerned that if the city approves the Port of Whitman on the rezone, they could invite AgTech back as a partner.

She reminds the Port that their website FAQ states that they will only move forward if they have a bid in hand and community support.

"They still do not have community support," she said.

Sordelet also noted that the project's name changed three times, which did not sit well with the protestors.

First, it was heavy industrial, then an industrial research park, and now an agriculture advancement campus.

She stated that protestors feel the Port is trying to make the same pig look pretty in attempting to compromise by saying they'll only work with a sliver of land.

She asks them what they need to get about people not liking the concept of industrial next to residential.

"We're opposed," she said, "It would devalue our homes. We're concerned about noise."

Furthermore, she stated that since they tried to get AgTech, those protesting don't trust the Port as they go forward.

"Once it's rezoned industrial, anything industrial goes, the city doesn't have a say," she added.

Sordelet stated that protestors respect the city and that the city has yet to approve the rezoning. Therefore, citizens know there is a process, and the Port is still waiting to go through that process.

Sordelet stated they're asking the Port to pull back their land purchase.

She explained that many people thought it went away when AgTech pulled out of the project, and the protestors want to let those people know that it is still the same.

"We want our community that opposed the biodiesel plant to know that this has not gone away," Sordelet said, adding that they do not want industrial next to residential, and they don't want the project to move forward.