Quote of the Day

[Moscow resident David] Hall questioned the plan to manage water, and criticized the developments’ anticipated water usage.

[Pullman resident Scotty] Cornelius also noted the shopping center’s drain on area groundwater supplies, but added the development will drain Pullman’s economy.

He also criticized what he called “inadequate” infrastructure for emergency services and called for commissioners to have an independent analysis done on the mall’s potential economic ramifications.

[Whitman County Commissioner Michael] Largent said commissioners appreciated the comments, but they were not relevant to commissioners’ decision on forming the RDA.

- "Hawkins project: County closer to multi-million dollar LIFT grant," Whitman County Gazette, June 19, 2008

Touche'! Advantage, Commissioner Largent!

I have praised the Whitman County Gazette repeatedly for providing some of the best journalism on the Palouse. However, the Gazette failed to report on both the Whitman County Republican Convention and the Wal-Mart appeal decision, and now, in the story below, the negative comments about the RDA hearing were played up. Pullman business owners Russ and April Coggins support of the RDA was not mentioned at all, even though they spoke at the hearing.

From yesterday's Whitman County Gazette:

Hawkins project: County closer to multi-million dollar LIFT grant

Whitman County commissioners took one step closer Monday to securing state funding for infrastructure improvements in the neighborhood of Boise-based Hawkins Companies’ proposed 714,000 square foot strip mall in the Pullman-Moscow Corridor at the Idaho state line.

“It’s a big step, but it’s just one more step in the process,” said Commissioner Greg Partch.

Following a public hearing, commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance which created a Revenue Development Area (RDA) on approximately 300 acres of land on the very east edge of the corridor.

The RDA defines an area in which a portion of the state’s share of sales tax revenues would be refunded to the county through the state’s Local Infrastructure Funding Tool (LIFT) program.

The county is seeking $18 million from the state grant program over several years.

Both Partch and Commissioner Jerry Finch pushed for a Monday decision, as they said the clock is ticking on the LIFT application process.

Applications are due June 30, and recipients will be announced Sept. 18.

“We are taking charge of our own financial destiny in this county,” said Finch.

Finch added this brings the county one step closer to reaching the goal they set when first elected, to augment county income without raising taxes.

Location of the RDA, however, stirred up worry among some local citizens.

Darl Roberts, a Pullman real estate agent, worried that helping to fund the development would be “perpetuating what’s been a major problem in Pullman for 30 years,” by pushing retail shoppers toward Moscow.

Roberts asked why commissioners did not broaden the boundaries of the RDA towards Pullman. Such a move, he said, would allow LIFT funds to be spent on extending utilities from the Pullman east through the corridor.

Public Works Director Mark Storey told Roberts the county considered a longer RDA, but felt, after meeting with grant consultant Kara Riebold, that applying for grant funding without clearly outlined projects would dilute the application and lessen the chance to receive the grant.

Roberts added he thought commissioners were not actually adding tax revenues, but were rather pirating such revenue from Pullman by pushing retail to the corridor.

Finch replied the city had two years to apply for LIFT funds, but “they chose not to.”

“Pullman wasn’t ready to extend utilities and hop on our LIFT application,” added Partch. “There just wasn’t an ability to do a LIFT grant with them at this time.”

Johnson resident Pat O’Neill, who is challenging Finch for the District 2 county commissioner seat, commended commissioners for “doing their homework and getting this process through.”

Seven residents attended Monday’s hearing.

Four people submitted written comments. They included Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, David Hall of Moscow, Scotty Cornelius of Pullman and Paul Kimmell, regional manager for Avista.

Chaney urged commissioners to closely monitor how Hawkins’ wastewater could affect Moscow’s wells.

Commissioner Michael Largent said the RDA hearing was not about the developer’s plans, and wastewater management would not be weighed in the commissioners’ decision.

Chaney’s letter also thanked commissioners for inviting her to comment on the formation of the RDA.

Largent pointed out no specific invitation was directly extended to Chaney.

Legal notices of the hearing to form the RDA were printed both in the Gazette and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Kimmell wished commissioners success in their efforts while Hall and Cornelius expressed their opposition to the Hawkins development.

Hall questioned the plan to manage water, and criticized the developments’ anticipated water usage.

Cornelius also noted the shopping center’s drain on area groundwater supplies, but added the development will drain Pullman’s economy.

He also criticized what he called “inadequate” infrastructure for emergency services and called for commissioners to have an independent analysis done on the mall’s potential economic ramifications.

Largent said commissioners appreciated the comments, but they were not relevant to commissioners’ decision on forming the RDA.

Created by the Legislature in 2006, the LIFT program can awards single grants up to $1 million per year to local governments to spend on infrastructure that will generated tax revenues. The Community Economic Revitalization Board can award up to $2.5 million overall each year in LIFT funding.

If the county is awarded LIFT funding, it will spend the money to pay off bonds commissioners last month decided to issue to finance construction of roads, water and sewer lines and sidewalks in Hawkins’ shopping complex.

Storey said approximately $14 million of the sought-after $18 million would be used to pay off the principle and interest on the bonds. The county seeks the $18 million award over several years.

The remaining $4 million would be used to reconstruct the eastern portion of Pullman Airport Road and to build a frontage road for businesses at Wilson Siding, on the south side of the Pullman-Moscow Highway across from the Hawkins site.

The frontage road would connect to the highway at the Airport road intersection light.

McGregor Fertilizer Co., Wilbur-Ellis and Busch Fuel Distributors all have plants south of the highway.

Crossroads Nursery, on the north side, is in the RDA.