"Hawkins decision was best for all"

I've never met Art Schultheis, but I'd like to. He has quite the way with words.

From yesterday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

First of all I would like to congratulate the new City Council in Moscow for accepting the mediated settlement with the Hawkins Companies. Finally, sound minds understood that the Hawkins development was going to move forward, whether the city of Moscow continued to fight it or not. I think the council made the only decision it could, stop spending money on lawsuits and attorneys, and help the process along. I think it realized that getting something out of the deal (water and sewer revenue) is a lot better than nothing.

I was unable to attend the Moscow council meeting, due to another meeting, but I was able to watch it live on the Internet when I got home. When I tuned into the meeting they were in the middle of a public hearing on a new subdivision development that is being proposed within the city limits of Moscow. For 1 1/2 hours, I listened to testimony regarding the new development. Arguments were presented regarding building heights, view sheds of existing homes, increased traffic, and safety concerns for children and pedestrians. Not once while I was watching during the public hearing was it brought up about what effect the new homes would have on the aquifer the city of Moscow draws from.

Once the discussion of the Hawkins water rights settlement began, environmentalists came out of the woodwork to complain about what these new businesses would do to their precious aquifer. I find it ironic that only businesses that will provide jobs and might make a profit will cause irreversible damage to the water table.

If you want to stop economic growth in the city of Moscow, that is your decision. Just keep your attitudes and lawsuits out of Whitman County and the state of Washington.

Art Schultheis, Colton

Amen, Art.

Nancy Regina Delenda Est

Doc Holliday: In vino veritas.
Johnny Ringo: Age quod agis.
Doc Holliday: Credat Judaeus apella, non ego.
Johnny Ringo: Eventus stultorum magister.
Doc Holliday: In pace requiescat.
Tombstone Marshal Fred White: Come on boys. We don't want any trouble in here. Not in any language.
Doc Holliday: That's Latin darlin'. Evidently Mr. Ringo's an educated man. Now I really hate him.

Tombstone, 1993

April noticed something very interesting on above Queen Nancy's signature on the City of Moscow's settlement agreement with the Hawkins Companies:

Chaney wrote the Latin phrase Cedo voluntati huius consilii above her signature. This translates to "Yielding to the will of this council." Legal requirement or secret dig at the Moscow City Council?

"Moscow council takes heat over Hawkins vote; Councilors voted 5-1 to provide water and sewer to developer; some question closed-door talks"

The Moscow City Councilman shouldn't sweat the "heat" very much. People like Bill French and Betsy Dickow are the usual suspects who are always against everything. That crowd had their shot at the polls last November and lost big time.

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

MOSCOW - Members of the Moscow City Council voted 5-1 late Monday night to provide water and sewer services across the state line to the proposed Hawkins Companies shopping center.

Members also agreed to drop the city's appeal against Hawkins' attempts to secure its own water rights to drill wells.

The action, taken shortly before midnight, stems from an agreement hammered out last week during 22 hours of closed-door mediation in Spokane. The agreement calls for the city to provide a total of 65 acre-feet of water annually to the development in Whitman County.

Mayor Nancy Chaney, who initiated and signed the earlier appeals, said after the vote that she would have given thumbs-down to the agreement if a tie had resulted between the six councilors. [Like that was going to happen - tf] But councilors Bill Lambert, John Weber, Wayne Krauss, Walter Steed and Dan Carscallen approved the measure, while Councilor Tom Lamar voted against it.

The entire council took a verbal lashing from several citizens who voiced their displeasure with the behind-doors negotiations that led to an agreement that they feared could change the area economy and threaten groundwater resources.

"By conducting our business in secret, you are taking away our government," said Bill French of Moscow, a self-described water watchdog on the Palouse. "And far beyond whatever you're poised to decide about our water resources, the damage to our government by this action I think is the real issue."

Betsy Dickow of Moscow echoed those sentiments. "I'm disappointed that the council would agree to consider something in confidentiality. I'm concerned that the city is willing to do things in secret. It concerns me greatly and I don't think it brings the confidence of the populace."

Steed responded that the confidentiality and secret nature of the mediation process was thrust upon the city. "We didn't ask for it," he said, explaining that he and other newly elected council members inherited an existing legal action. "We didn't start it. We didn't have anything to do with it. But we were handed it as new council members."

The water appeals came last year after members of the old city council and Chaney met in executive session. No vote was taken in the session, but Chaney came out of it with enough approval, apparently, to exercise her executive authority to file the appeals.

"The objective was not secrecy," Chaney told the Lewiston Tribune after the meeting. "I don't think there was any effort by any of the council members previous or present to keep the public in the dark." [Riiiight - tf]

By law, the council can meet in executive session to discuss legal matters. Whether city-initiated legal actions can or should stem from those talks, especially with no prior public discussion, seems to be the area of concern for citizens.

"We sought legal advice in this and it was advised to handle it in this manner," Chaney said. "It was not any effort to usurp the public process."

Chaney reiterated that the appeals were filed because of concerns for groundwater, not to stop economic development.

But Whitman County officials have said Moscow's leap into the legal arena across a state line had the potential effect of stopping retail development in the Moscow-Pullman corridor. The Whitman County commissioners earlier Monday, in fact, agreed to issue bonds in the amount of $9.1 million to help Hawkins get infrastructure, including water and sewer services, to the construction site.

"It's like voting for something and holding your nose while you're doing it," Lambert said. "That's what I'm doing here in this process. At least we're getting some type of control factor out of this." He warned that if Hawkins continued to move ahead and drill its own well, Moscow would have no control whatsoever. "At least we've got the right to determine how much water we can give them."

According to the agreement, Moscow will provide 45 acre-feet of water annually to the 14,000-square-foot shopping center for indoor use.

Another 20 acre-feet annually will be provided for irrigation. In addition, the agreement allows for 2,500 to 3,000 gallons per minute to be available for fire protection. Hawkins would become a water utility customer of the city.

The agreement also allows for Hawkins to receive sanitary sewer treatment service from Moscow. Water and sewer rates for the shopping center, according to the agreement, will be made according to the city's regular fee schedule.

The agreement also bars the city from protesting or appealing any construction permits sought by Hawkins for the project. Hawkins, according to the agreement, will not challenge the city's plans to drill a new well near the shopping center site.

Lamar said he could not, in good conscience, vote in favor of the agreement. In addition to groundwater concerns, Lamar has maintained since being appointed to the council last year that he's against retail development in the corridor. He wants the eight-mile stretch to remain a transportation corridor only between the two university communities.

"I'm concerned about this proposal and I don't see clearly that this will benefit the residents of Moscow," Lamar said. "It makes me uncomfortable to not even be able to discuss the details of it with the public before making a decision."

While concerns continue to be voiced on the Idaho side of the border, officials in Whitman County keep touting the Hawkins shopping center as the beginning of retail development throughout the corridor that will provide shopping for consumers and tax dollars for government.

Hawkins spokespeople have said they plan to begin construction this year. The proposal calls for a Lowe's home improvement center to anchor the development, with room for at least two additional big-box stores.

"Hawkins to tap into Moscow's water; City to sell services to development company looking to build retail center in Pullman-Moscow corridor"

That's a headline I never thought I would post here!! Hawkins and Colton get their water and the Department of Ecology can no longer hold up our development! The Border War is over and Moscow and Whitman County can start cooperating again on issues that matter.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

The city of Moscow has changed its stance on a proposed development in Whitman County.

The City Council voted 5-1 Monday to sell water to Hawkins Companies for use at its proposed 700,000-square-foot retail development, which would be situated just across the state line in the Pullman-Moscow corridor.

The city also agreed to drop its appeal of a water rights transfer by Hawkins.

A settlement agreement between the entities was developed during two days of mediation between Moscow, Hawkins, the Washington State Department of Ecology and the city of Colton last week in Spokane.

The council had to vote on the settlement without disclosing its content to the public because of a confidentiality requirement of the mediation.

Councilmen Walter Steed and Wayne Krauss, Mayor Nancy Chaney and Public Works Director Les MacDonald attended the mediation. The full council discussed the settlement in a private session before Monday night's meeting.

Tom Lamar was the only council member to vote against the agreement.

The agreement states that, pending permitting by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, Moscow will provide up to 45 acre-feet of drinkable water per year and up to 20 acre-feet of irrigation water per year, unless Hawkins uses reclaimed water for irrigation. The city also will provide water for fire protection for the development.

The city also is offering Hawkins sewer treatment services. Hawkins has 90 days to decide whether to accept the services and must build a sewage treatment facility on its property if it does not accept the deal with Moscow. Hawkins has estimated it will cost $2 million to build a sewage treatment plant at the site.

If Moscow develops a reclaimed water supply for irrigation, Hawkins can negotiate a deal to use it. Steed said the 20 acre-feet designated for irrigation will be removed from the deal if Hawkins uses reclaimed water, whether from Moscow or its own treatment plant.

The city will charge Hawkins rates that are "fair and reasonable and consistent with rates and charges set for similarly situated customers of the city," the agreement states.

According to the agreement, Hawkins is responsible for the capital costs of extending water utilities from the city to the development. Whitman County has agreed to sell bonds to pay for public infrastructure at the site.

Moscow will withdraw the appeals of three Hawkins water rights that it filed with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.

Hawkins will withdraw its appeal of one water right, an annual 63-acre-feet draw from the Wanapum aquifer, that was rejected by the board.

Colton will get 100 acre-feet of annual water rights it negotiated in a deal with Hawkins.

Hawkins will have the right to exercise two of its water rights until city water service begins, at which time Hawkins will relinquish its rights and retire them permanently.

Krauss said he went into the mediation knowing the final decision would make some people unhappy, but it had to be reached.

"This a real case of being caught between a rock and hard spot when you do something like this and you make a decision," he said.

Steed said the agreement provides revenue for Moscow and causes no net increase in withdrawals from the Grand Ronde aquifer.

He said Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee officials believe the agreement will create a net decrease in water usage compared to the usage that could happen if Hawkins had all its water rights approved and Moscow lost its appeal.

"We believe there are benefits to the city of Moscow and its citizens in the agreement," Steed said.

Lamar said he voted against the proposal because he doesn't see a clear benefit for Moscow and its residents. [Waaahhhh. Get used to being the single "No" vote Lamar - tf]

"Personally, I'm concerned with the details and the precedent that may be set with decisions if we are to accept this," he said.

He said he doesn't think the city should sell water rights across the state line because Moscow has no ability to annex or tax the development. The development also could have negative ramifications for Moscow businesses.

"Once we decide to sell water to Hawkins, it's no longer just the water issue, it's the city of Moscow helping to make that development happen," he said.

Chaney said she would have voted against the agreement if given the chance. [Of course she would have. Luckily Mayor Moonbat has become Mayor Irrelevant - tf]

She said the agreement saves Hawkins money, which will expedite additional development in the corridor that will draw even more water from a declining aquifer.

"I'm not comfortable that we have all the information in hand yet," she said.

Several Moscow residents who spoke before the vote on the agreement said they were upset with the confidentiality.

"The people here are concerned (about water issues). They are interested," Moscow resident David Pierce said. "The fact that you are willing, it appears, to approve a mitigation and a compromise on this thing without involving the people of the area I think is a great travesty to the people of this area."

Several people also were concerned that the council is jeopardizing the future of Moscow's water resources by agreeing to extend services to Hawkins.

"I also am concerned that the city is willing to mortgage our children's future and put their water rights at risk and destroying possibly two existing wells and our downtown in order to put money in other people's pockets," Moscow resident Betsy Dickow said.

Moscow resident David Hall said selling water to Hawkins causes Moscow to lose its credibility as a city concerned about water.

"Moscow needs to do a full water budget before it can even consider providing water to outside entities," Hall said.

Many council members said they were uncomfortable about not being able to discuss the agreement before the vote.

Steed said confidentiality "was placed upon us. We didn't ask for it. We didn't particularly want to do it that way."

Lamar said Moscow residents will have the chance to share their opinions about the agreement during the Idaho Department of Water Resources permitting process, which will be conducted by the state.

Lambert said Moscow's representatives at the mediation could have just walked away, but it would have left the city with no control over how Hawkins uses its water rights.

"This issue is not a cut-and-dried issue where we've got the right to stop what they're doing over there, and everybody in this town needs to understand that," Lambert said. "At least we've got the right to determine how much water we can give them."

Whitman County Commissioner Jerry Finch said Moscow's decision takes "a big impediment off the process."

"I think it is a win-win for both the county and the city of Moscow," Finch said. "We've come a long way. Six months ago I would have never thought they would sell Hawkins water."

"Whitman County steps in to move Hawkins project forward; Shopping center has been embroiled in water rights disputes with Moscow"

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

A proposed shopping center in the Moscow-Pullman corridor is expected to generate enough tax dollars on its own to pay for $9.1 million worth of infrastructure financed through Whitman County, officials said Monday.

"It won't cost the (other) taxpayers anything," Sharron Cunningham, the county's director of administrative services, said after commissioners Michael Largent, Greg Partch and Jerry Finch signed a preliminary development agreement with Jeff De Voe of Hawkins Companies.

The development hinges, among other things, on whether a water source can be secured.

Hawkins, a Boise-based company, wants to build a 714,000-square-foot shopping center, with a Lowe's home improvement center as the initial anchor, on 204 acres abutting the Idaho border and Moscow city limits. Because of delays revolving around water rights disputes with Moscow and resulting rising construction costs, Hawkins asked the county last month to foot the bill for water and sewer service, roads, curbs and gutters.

The commissioners agreed to the request during their Monday morning meeting.

In addition to detailing financing of the infrastructure, the preliminary agreement hints of possible cooperation with Moscow officials. Construction might be modified, the agreement reads, "if an alternative water and/or sewer system is found and both parties agree to this change."

There had been early talk of Moscow providing water and sewer hookups to the shopping center. But that potential appeared to evaporate when the city failed to act and Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney later signed an appeal of Hawkins' attempts to secure water rights to drill its own wells.

Members of the Moscow City Council were expected Monday night to take action on the appeals after formal mediation with Hawkins representatives last week. However, any decision by the Moscow City Council on the issue occurred after press time. All negotiations have been behind closed doors.

The agreement calls for the company to build all improvements and then be reimbursed by the county. The county, in turn, will issue bonds. The bonds, Cunningham explained, are purchased by a private entity or entities intending to make a profit off interest. "They're purchasing the debt," she said.

Cunningham said Hawkins, upon start of the project, will immediately begin paying construction taxes to the county, plus property taxes and eventually sales taxes in amounts expected to pay the $9.1 million bond plus interest.

De Voe said Hawkins wants to begin construction this year.

Finch, one of the most vocal advocates of the Hawkins development, said the shopping center could be the beginning of more retail construction throughout the eight-mile corridor between the two university towns. Cunningham confirmed that success of such development could translate into much-needed county revenue stability and even a possible surplus.

"We can project all we want," she said, "but we have to cover the debt first."

According to county estimates, tax revenues over the 20 years of the bonds will exceed $9 million above costs in principal and interest. If the Hawkins development fails, according to county documents, other money sources are available, including money from the state and real estate excise taxes.

The infrastructure agreement will be null and void, according to the preliminary agreement, if Hawkins fails to secure water rights, or "firm commitments from Lowe's (or reasonably suitable replacement) to either lease or purchase a portion of the development."

All the infrastructure improvements and water rights for the development will be transferred from Hawkins to the county at no charge, according to the preliminary agreement. The county is exploring the creation of a water district to supply the development, according to the agreement. In addition, Hawkins has agreed to build a rural fire station on the site, according to the agreement, and donate the land and building to Whitman County Rural Fire District 12.

All of this, Finch said, wouldn't have happened if Moscow officials had simply agreed to supply water and sewer service to Hawkins. Moscow's water rights appeals further impeded progress, said Finch, to the point where he feared Hawkins Companies might abandon the project if Whitman County hadn't stepped in with help.

"Settlement could be near in Moscow-area water rights dispute"

From yesterday's Lewiston Tribune:

MOSCOW - A potential water rights settlement between the city of Moscow and Hawkins Companies appears possible by Monday, according to a city council agenda.

Councilor Wayne Krauss confirmed Friday the council will meet in executive session prior to Monday night's regular meeting to discuss the matter. A public discussion of the appeals, recent mediation and a potential settlement is scheduled as the last item on the council's agenda.

Both Krauss and Councilor Walter Steed said they would not comment on the potential settlement, after signing confidentiality documents earlier in the week at Spokane where the mediation session took place. Krauss, Steed, Mayor Nancy Chaney, Public Works Director Les McDonald and a water rights attorney joined others, including Hawkins representatives, at the session.

According to the council agenda, members are now ready to "discuss and take such action deemed appropriate including approval of settlement."

No public input has been taken on the appeals issue.

Hawkins wants to build a 700,000-square-foot retail shopping center just west of the state line in Whitman County. To do that, the company sought and secured from the Washington Department of Ecology the transfer of water rights to drill wells for the development.

But Moscow filed an appeal, signed by Chaney, with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board. While hearings on the appeal are scheduled for later this spring, parties agreed to mediation last week.

To date, little of the issue has been discussed publicly. Chaney filed the appeal after meeting in executive session with members of last year's council. The mediation session was closed to the public. So the scheduled discussion at the end of Monday night's meeting will be the first time council members have addressed the matter in an open forum.

Moscow's appeal asserts, among other things, Hawkins secured water rights in two different groundwater locations and the transfers might be contrary to the legal intended use. The city of Colton had agreed to swap water rights with Hawkins, but that agreement stalled when the Moscow appeals were filed.

Chaney said the appeals stem from a concern for the region's groundwater. Critics, however, said the shopping center would use relatively little water and Moscow's action is really about slowing or stopping retail development in the Moscow-Pullman corridor.

The Whitman County commissioners, meanwhile, are poised to make a decision about a $10.5 million bond issue to build infrastructure, including water service, for the Hawkins development. Proponents said the cost to county taxpayers would be retrieved in sales and property taxes from the development. As proposed, the shopping center would be anchored by a Lowe's home improvement center and possibly other big-box retail stores.

"City Council to discuss settlement with Hawkins Companies"

Hopefully Queen Nancy's ill-begotten appeal will soon be over. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that executive session. From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

The Moscow City Council will discuss and potentially approve a settlement between the city and Hawkins Companies during its meeting Monday.

Councilmen Wayne Krauss and Walter Steed and Mayor Nancy Chaney attended a mediation hearing in Spokane earlier this week in an attempt to reach a settlement with Hawkins on three water-rights transfers approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Hawkins plans to use the water rights for its proposed 700,000-square-foot retail shopping center just west of the Idaho state line.

Moscow filed an appeal over Ecology's decision with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board, arguing that the water rights are located in two different bodies of public groundwater and the transfers will impair existing water rights, not be in the public's interest and will improperly modify the manner of the rights' intended use.

The appeal also cited the Department of Ecology's failure to conduct an analysis of the average amount of water use from the rights over the past five years. The City Council will have to approve any decision reached at the mediation before it will be official.

Steed said he could not comment on the mediation between representatives from the city and Hawkins Companies.

"Government officials, developer negotiate water rights"

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

Representatives of the Hawkins Companies, the Washington Department of Ecology and the cities of Moscow and Colton continued mediation talks in Spokane late Tuesday night over disputed water rights transfers.

Moscow City Councilor Wayne Krauss, reached by cell phone at around 9:30 p.m., said the talks were still in session. All participants, Krauss added, signed a confidentiality paper when the talks began in the morning and he declined further comment about the negotiations.

Krauss said he expected the talks to end late Tuesday night and members of the Moscow City Council might discuss the outcome during an executive session Monday.

Hawkins has proposed building a 700,000-square-foot shopping center adjacent to the Moscow city limits just over the state line in Whitman County. The development company secured water rights transfers for the development, then Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, with council approval, appealed the transfers.

Hawkins representatives have said they need the water rights before drilling their own wells. Moscow had refused to offer water and sewer service to the development.

The city of Colton got involved when officials there agreed to swap water rights with Hawkins before Chaney's appeal brought the transfer to a halt. The appeals, said Colton developers, have brought a halt to construction in their town.

Several people, including a pro-development citizens group in Whitman County, have called on members of Moscow's new city council to rescind the appeals and let Hawkins start construction. The appeals remain scheduled for hearings later this spring. The mediation gathering was organized recently in hope of finding a quicker resolution.

In the meantime, the three Whitman County commissioners indicated they may make a decision by Monday whether to issue $10.5 million worth of bonds to build infrastructure, including water service, for the Hawkins development. The commissioners have championed the Hawkins shopping center and criticized Moscow officials for jumping over a state line to take legal action.

Chaney said her appeals were filed because of concern for the region's groundwater. Critics continue to say the mayor and members of the former city council in Moscow really want to stop retail development in the Moscow-Pullman corridor. The Whitman County commissioners have all gone on record that they hope the Hawkins development will be the start of even more retail development throughout the eight-mile corridor.

As planned, the Hawkins shopping center would be anchored by a Lowe's home improvement center and could include other big-box retail stores.

"Mediation between city, Hawkins under way"

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Moscow City Councilman Walter Steed said he could not comment on ongoing mediation between representatives of the city of Moscow and Hawkins Companies.

Steed, Councilman Wayne Krauss and Mayor Nancy Chaney are attending the mediation in Spokane, which started Tuesday. Steed said Tuesday afternoon that the rules of the mediation require him to keep information confidential.

He said he could not comment on how long the mediation would take. Krauss said earlier this week that the mediation would likely run through today.

Moscow has appealed the Washington State Department of Ecology's decision to grant the Boise-based development company water-rights transfers for a proposed retail development in the Pullman-Moscow corridor, just west of the Idaho state line.

The appeal, which was filed with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board, argues that the water rights are located in two different bodies of public groundwater and the transfers will impair existing water rights, not be in the public's interest and will improperly modify the manner of the rights' intended use.

The appeal also cited the Department of Ecology's failure to conduct an analysis of the average amount of water use from the rights over the past five years.

Krauss and Chaney could not be reached for comment.

Councilmen Dan Carscallen, Tom Lamar, Bill Lambert and John Weber said Tuesday they had not heard any news about the mediation.

Weber said Peter G. Scott, a Montana-based lawyer who is representing the city in the appeal, will speak for Moscow in the mediation.

"I think Wayne and Walter were there to show moral support and the fact that we're serious about it, and so is the mayor, but as far as them giving any testimony I think the testimony would have been given by our mediator or experts," Weber said.

The City Council will have to approve any decision reached at the mediation before it will be official.

"Hawkins vote could come Monday in Whitman County"

"...the best way to keep shoppers in Pullman and, crucially, attract shoppers from Moscow and other nearby communities, is for Pullman to 'differentiate itself' from its neighbors, to offer shopping and dining opportunities not already available in our area."

- PARDner Chris Lupke, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, June 16, 2006

"I see Whitman County and Latah County as having somewhat of a fixed revenue source. I don't know if there is enough dispensable income to support this kind of project."

- PARDner Don Orlich, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, January 29, 2008, on the Hawkins Companies retail development in the corridor which will bring a variety of new shopping and dining opportunities to the Palouse, including a Lowe's Home Improvement and another undisclosed large retailer.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Commissioners say they won't be rushed in making decision to sell bonds to pay for infrastructure at development site

Whitman County commissioners have tentatively set Monday as their target date for a vote on the proposed public-private partnership with Hawkins Companies and the selling of roughly $10 million in bonds.

The bonds would be used to pay for public infrastructure at the site of Hawkins' proposed retail development in the Pullman-Moscow corridor, just west of the Idaho state line.

Commissioner Michael Largent said at a public meeting Monday in Colfax the commissioners would not be rushed in making their decision.

"We will not make a decision until we are ready, regardless of a timeline," he said.

Monday's meeting was not as well attended as the previous two public meetings on the topic, with only four Whitman County residents attending.

Donald Orlich, a Pullman resident, was one of two residents who spoke against the proposed development. He told the county commissioners it was not the government's place to provide money for private businesses. He also said it was not the time to burden the county with debt, given the declining state of the country's economy.

"What we have in front of us is whether the county will commit to financing public infrastructure," Orlich said. "I don't think we should be subsidizing private companies.

"I really think this would be bad timing all around and I am opposed to this."

Orlich also questioned the profitability potential of the proposed 700,000-square-foot shopping center.

"I see Whitman County and Latah County as having somewhat of a fixed revenue source," Orlich said. "I don't know if there is enough dispensable income to support this kind of project."

Commissioner Jerry Finch responded to Orlich's comment by citing a recent study that concluded the Palouse loses $80 million a year in potential retail sales to nearby cities like Spokane and Lewiston.

"If we capture 10 percent of that, which I think is realistic, those numbers are doable," Finch said.

Finch also said the county and Hawkins have been careful in their estimates.

"Everywhere we have done this we have done this very conservatively," Finch said.

Russ Coggins, a Pullman resident, spoke in favor of the bonding and the development.

"I think the proposed bond as proposed is going to be a good thing for Whitman County," Coggins said. "It is a heck of a bargain. I don't see how Whitman County can pass on it."

The commissioners also said during the meeting that representatives from Hawkins have indicated that a second "major retailer" is ready to commit to the development.

The county has made available an informational packet on its Web site (whitmancounty.org) in response to the many questions raised by residents during last week's public meeting and to clear up some of the public's questions.

One of the questions addressed in the packet was what would the total cost of the bond be to the county once interest is included. According to the packet, the county has not decided on the length of the bond, but if the county elected to sell 20-year bonds, the cost of a $9.1 million bond ultimately would be $14.2 million.

Another question addressed how the county will pay for the bonds. According to the packet, the county expects sales and property taxes generated from the development will "more than pay for the costs to the county."

The county also expects to see a tax revenue profit from the development of $9 million over the first 20 years, "over and above the costs in principal and interest to pay for the infrastructure."

If the estimates aren't reached, the county still would have several options to pay for the bonds, including using .09 funds - money provided by the state and awarded by the county to assist rural communities with economic development - or dipping into the county's general fund, according to the packet.

Hawkins representatives were scheduled to meet with Moscow representatives today in Spokane, with a goal of resolving their differences over a water-rights transfers granted by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Moscow has appealed the Department of Ecology's decision, arguing that the water rights were located in two different bodies of public groundwater and the transfers would impair existing water rights, not be in the public's interest and would improperly modify the manner of the rights' intended use. The appeal also cited Ecology's failure to conduct an analysis of the average amount of water use from the rights over the past five years.

New Motto for Moscow

"Moscow - We Are Appealing"

Courtesy of Bill Weed, The Morning News on NewsTalk 1150, KQQQ

"Commissioners schedule third public meeting to discuss Hawkins proposal"

I applaud the county commissioners' efforts to clear up the misconceptions, misunderstandings and outright lies about the Hawkins bond proposal. However, I also hope that they pull the trigger quickly and not get bogged down in endless public hearings. The naysayers will only garner more press as a result, as we have seen with the WSU golf course. And private development does not have the fiat of the state government to keep things moving forward.

A comment on the Daily News website in response to Moscow Civic Association member Jack Porter's letter yesterday sums it beautifully:

What ignorant oaf first said Hawkins was looking for a subsidy and how dumb are those who keep repeating that falsehood?

Check the record. Hawkins is proposing a government entity supply it the same kind of services provided to most existing businesses within the political subdivision. For that service, it proposes to repay the capital and operating costs as well as providing a positive revenue stream into the foreseeable future through payment of taxes and fees. If the numbers available in public documents are correct, the Whitman County stands to do quite well by the deal.

Of course Mr. Porter is no ignorant fool. He's bright enough to see where a considerable sum of money which now flows into Moscow and Latah County will go and to use rhetoric proven to strike a chord with and manipulate both anti-growth activists and anti-government reactionaries.

Nice try, Jack but I think there are enough people in Whitman County who can “do the math” to win the day. Fortunately, it appears we can count our county commissioners among the enlightened.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Whitman County commissioners want to hear more public input before they make a decision on selling $10.5 million in bonds to cover the costs of public infrastructure at the proposed site of the Hawkins Companies' development just west of the Idaho state line.

A third public comment session is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Monday in the commissioner's chambers at the Whitman County Courthouse. The bonds and Hawkins' proposal to form a public/private partnership with the county for the purpose of constructing the infrastructure will be discussed.

The commissioners hoped to make a decision on the proposal Monday, but Commissioner Jerry Finch said they have decided to delay their decision after several county residents raised concerns about the development during last Tuesday's public input session.

"It was obvious after that meeting last week people had a lot of questions in their minds, and we want to clear up some of those misconceptions," Finch said.

One way the commissioners hope to clear up questions is by making a fact sheet available to the public, detailing the proposal and the county's plan.

Finch said the fact sheets should be available early next week and can be obtained by calling the courthouse at (509) 397-6200.

"Hawkins development: Residents query commissioners on public bond"

From last Thursday's Whitman County Gazette:

A standing room only crowd packed commissioners’ chambers at the county courthouse in Colfax Tuesday afternoon to gather more information on the county’s proposal to float more than $10 million in bonds to set up infrastructure at a shopping center on the Idaho stateline.

The county was asked two weeks ago by Hawkins Companies, Boise, to pay for roads, lighting and water and sewer systems for the company’s proposed 700,000 sq. ft. strip mall.

“I’m worried that we don’t have answers to specific questions, and we’re a week away from this decision,” said Pullman Resident Carol Chipman.

Most in attendance sought clarification.

Chipman asked for clarification on the company’s proposal on the bond, which delayed payment of the principle until the bonds mature.

Cheryl Morgan, also of Pullman, asked for clarification on the company’s construction cost estimates.

Hawkins Spokesman Jeff DeVoe called the bond and construction figures he put forth two weeks ago a “sketch on a bar napkin,” and not hard figures.

He said county bonding consultant Jack McLaughlin, VP of public financing for DA Davidson in Spokane, explained to him the necessity to pay a portion of the principle and interest over the term of the bonds.

DeVoe added the private-public cooperation between the company and the county has been in “infantile planning stages for a long time”.

Pullman Developer Duane Brelsford worried that obligating public funds for a private development would set a “dangerous precedent.”

Brelsford said his company, Corporate Pointe Development, has several large projects planned in and outside of Pullman.

“We’ll of course assume we would be treated the same,” he said.

Brelsford added dedicating funds to Hawkins would mean the county would have to, in fairness, extend similar cooperation to other developers looking to site in the corridor.

“If we choose to go that direction, I think we’re going to need a lot more than $10 million,” he said.

Thornton resident Carolyn Kiesz doubted the wisdom of dedicating funds to the retail development in the face of a nationwide economic slump.

“Now is not the time to encumber the taxpayer with this debt,” said Kiesz.

She suggested a manufacturing company would better benefit the regional economy, as it would close the trade gap and not encourage a shopping center filled with “cheap foreign-made goods.”

Kiesz also noted that jobs from the retail development would not pay enough to be of significant value to job-seeking residents of other parts of the county.

Morgan questioned the reasoning for the public-private partnership.

Morgan cited news accounts that said the increased costs in construction, and in the company’s pursuit of water for the site, as built-in costs the company could well have anticipated.

“They’re not new to this process,” said Morgan. “It makes me wonder if this was the whole plan in the first place.”

DeVoe replied that the lengthy appeals process over the transfer of four water rights to service the site was new to him.

“Three years ago, if you would have told me the interesting road we would have been down on the water issue, I would have laughed,” said DeVoe.

The company last July received approval from the county Water Conservancy Board to transfer four water rights.

Three of the Conservancy Board’s decisions were upheld by the state Department of Ecology, and one was denied because the DOE found the company did not adequately address pumping groundwater in drier summer months.

Hawkins has appealed that decision.

The city of Moscow appealed the other three on the basis that such a development would further drain the region’s declining aquifer levels.

Conservancy Board Chair Ed Schultz questioned the wisdom of issuing millions of dollars worth of bonds without any guarantee that the development would be supplied with water.

Next week’s announcement, Commissioner Michael Largent explained, would declare whether or not the county intends to float the bonds.

Commissioner Greg Partch explained the company must have water rights in hand and an anchor tenant committed to occupancy before the county would issue the bonds. To date, only Lowe’s home improvement stores has committed to occupy the space.

DeVoe assured the crowd that the company will not ask for the bond without water and that anchor tenant.

“If I’m a taxpayer, I’m going to ask myself, ‘what if Hawkins goes away, are we left to pay off this bond?’” he said.

DeVoe said if the company acquires the water rights, it would then donate them to the county, as state requirements prohibit a private company from providing water and sewer service.

That transfer, he added, would not be as difficult a process as the company’s pursuit.

Kiesz then asked if commissioners would be open to other types of businesses in the corridor, or if this was an effort to help out the company.

“No one else has come forward, that I know of,” said Largent. “Whether Hawkins makes a profit or not is not our concern.”

Partch said commissioners were “not married” to this project or to the Hawkins company itself.

“We are married to the corridor,” he said. “Our future is hanging out there.”

He pointed to the lengthy re-zoning of land in the corridor as proof that commissioners focused on it as their main focus in economic development. County code was shifted for more than two years to allow such zoning.

“People in the past didn’t attempt development in the corridor because they couldn’t develop anything in this county,” said Commissioner Jerry Finch.

Finch pointed to developments such as the Garage Mahal storage units and James Toyota’s planned move to the corridor from Moscow as evidence that those re-zoning efforts have paid off.

Any growth, retail or otherwise, in the corridor, Partch noted, will help to stave off the impacts of a national recession on the Palouse. He also pointed out that the county’s treasury was seriously impacted by voter-approved initiatives that removed tax revenue and limited tax increases.

“If we put together this shopping center and they do it the classy way that they do, it will set the tenor for all development in the corridor,” said Finch.

Without such a development, Finch worried that in 20 years the corridor would be filled with “ramshackle steel buildings sitting in a hodgepodge.”

"Wrangling over water rights will move to Spokane; Mediation set in dispute over Moscow-Pullman corridor work"

Another great article from David Johnson in last Thursday's Lewiston Tribune. Johnson uncovers the Imperial Mayoralty of Queen Nancy:

MOSCOW - The politics of water will move from the Palouse to Spokane Tuesday as officials meet in a closed-door mediation session to discuss the proposed Hawkins Companies shopping center.

Hawkins, a Boise-based development company, secured water rights transfers for its 700,000-square-foot mall in the Moscow-Pullman corridor. But Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney appealed the transfers, igniting criticism the city is unjustifiably wielding legal clout across state lines.

Chaney said the appeals, which were filed with city council consent, stem from a genuine concern for the region's groundwater resources. Critics contend the mayor is more interested in stopping retail development in the corridor and elsewhere.

That view was voiced Tuesday night by developer Art Schultheis of Colton, who told Chaney and city council members that Moscow's appeals have effectively stopped housing construction in his Whitman County town. The city of Colton and Hawkins were about to exchange water rights when the appeals stopped the process.

"I'm here tonight to ask your city council of Moscow to rescind your appeal of the water rights transfer," Schultheis said.

Others, including Hawkins representatives and the Whitman County commissioners, have blasted the Moscow appeals as little more than a legal lever geared toward halting development.

Moscow City Attorney Randy Fife said Wednesday the mediation session may help iron out differences. He also confirmed the new city council could, by majority vote, simply rescind the appeals.

"As far as I'm concerned, the city of Moscow should have no standing in the state of Washington," Schultheis said.

But when it comes to water rights and resources, Fife said, laws in Washington and Idaho recognize that groundwater flows beneath borders.

"One of the problems is that it was initiated in executive session and nobody will talk about it," Schultheis said of the Moscow appeals. Fife said Chaney, under the city's strong-mayor type of government, has authority to file such appeals after seeking general agreement from council members during an executive session.

The new council, with five professed pro-development members, appears willing to continue closed door talks at least through next week's mediation session.

Overall regional water supply issues aside, Fife said Moscow is concerned specifically that the Hawkins development could have an adverse effect on a city well located near the development site.

If water supply is the real fear, critics have said, Moscow should have a moratorium on new housing developments and challenge other construction projects, such as the new Washington State University golf course, which will use much more water than the proposed Hawkins shopping mall.

Water experts have said Moscow and Pullman share underground aquifers and water levels have been dropping by about 1.5 feet annually.

Moscow hired water rights attorney Peter Scott, of Helena, Mont., as lead counsel in the appeal process. Fife estimated Scott's services are costing the city about $200 an hour. In addition to Moscow officials, representatives from Whitman County, the city of Colton, Hawkins Companies, and others are expected to attend the mediation session, Fife said, adding mediation provides a vehicle for much needed dialogue.

"Everybody has been talking about talking," Fife said. "Now Hawkins gets to sit down and tell the city what it needs and wants.".

Hawkins spokesman Jeff De Voe has said his company needs water and wants Moscow to share its municipal supply or stop interfering with attempts to secure water rights for their own wells. De Voe declined additional comment because of the pending mediation.

Mediator Cassandra Noble, of the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board, is scheduled to oversee the Tuesday session. Fife said mediation might last longer than one day and an accord won't necessarily be struck.

In addition to Chaney and himself, Fife said Councilor Wayne Krauss and Public Works Director Les McDonald are expected to attend the mediation session.

"Hawkins, Moscow will talk water"

From last Wednesday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Developer, city will try to resolve differences next week in Spokane; Whitman County residents voice concerns about plan to pay for infrastructure

Hawkins Companies representatives said Tuesday they plan to meet with officials from the city of Moscow in an attempt to resolve water-rights issues surrounding the company's plans to build a shopping center just west of the Washington-Idaho state line.

Hawkins spokesman Jeff DeVoe said Moscow is seeking mediation with the company in an effort to reach an agreement over four separate water rights that are being appealed with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.

"We are willing to listen and come in with an open mind," DeVoe said after a public meeting in Colfax to discuss the proposed sale of $10.5 million in bonds to build infrastructure at the development site. "We are a shopping center developer and that's our goal. We are willing to do whatever makes sense."

Moscow City Attorney Randy Fife said the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Spokane.

Fife said a mediator will direct the meeting, ask questions, and offer scenarios and solutions until a resolution is reached. The Moscow City Council would have to approve the resolution before it could become official.

If a compromise or deal isn't reached, a hearing with the PCHB is scheduled to take place June 2-6 in Spokane.

During Tuesday's meeting with county commissioners, several Whitman County residents voiced their concerns over the proposed development and the county entering into a public-private partnership with Hawkins to sell bonds that would pay for public infrastructure necessary for the development. County commissioners plan to eventually pay back the bonds through property and sales taxes generated by the development.

Carolyn Kiesz said it took a lot of guts for the county commissioners to even float the idea of a bond meant to help a private corporation.

"Some of us in this county really don't want to let you get away with that," she told commissioners.

Kiesz said this is not the time for the county to potentially burden its taxpayers. The nation is facing the possibility of a recession and the development would only provide another outlet for foreign products, which means money going out of state and out of the country.

"I just don't think you should be asking for $10 million with no assurances of a return," Kiesz said.

She also said a retail shopping center would not help Whitman County reduce its high poverty rate, which is tops in the state of Washington according to recent statistics from the 2005 U.S. Census. The development would likely provide low-paying jobs and jobs to Moscow residents, and not to people in towns like Malden and Tekoa who really need jobs.

"I think you should be embarrassed" by those poverty-rate numbers, she said. "Bringing retail business is not going to fix that; bringing in manufacturing will help."

Duane Brelsford, president of Corporate Pointe Developers, said he has nothing but praise for Hawkins, but he is skeptical about providing more than $10 million for public infrastructure for the development unless the county is prepared to do the same for other developers. The cost of that would likely approach $100 million.

"I think we are setting a very dangerous precedent by providing infrastructure for this development," Brelsford said. "If we choose to go that direction I think we are going to need a lot more than $10 million because there are a lot more projects that are going in the corridor ... "

Commissioner Michael Largent said he welcomes opinions from those in favor of the bonds and those against the idea.

He also said he does not have all the answers yet, but he told people the commissioners are looking out for the public's interest.

"When we asked the public to give us their comments and start deliberating it didn't mean we had all the answers," Largent said. "Our responsibility is to the taxpayers of Whitman County and not Hawkins."

Commissioner Greg Partch stressed Whitman County would only move forward with the bonds if the deal was right for the county.

"This is not a done deal," Partch said. "We are not married to it. We are married to development on the corridor."

DeVoe added that Hawkins would not go forward with the development unless it was certain several issues - outside the control of Whitman County - could be resolved.

"Without water there is no bond," DeVoe said. "Without a tenant there is no bond and no infrastructure. We are not going to ask for a public-private partnership until those things are secured."

Commissioner Jerry Finch told meeting attendees the Hawkins development would lead to positive growth in the corridor, rather than "a hodgepodge of something we are all embarrassed with."

"I think if we put this shopping center in we will set the tenor for the whole corridor," Finch said. "If we don't, I am convinced there will be a series of steel buildings and parking lots. Whitman County and its citizens will be no better off than they are now."

Largent said the commissioners still hope to make a decision by the end of the month, but that it may be delayed if they aren't satisfied with all the information available.

"Moscow looks to cork mall's water supply; Mall opponents fear shopping center could drain aquifer"

I had the chance to meet David Johnson of the Lewiston Tribune last Monday. He is a journalist, not a reporter. His stories go beyond the fluff pieces we usually read around here, cut away the BS, and get to the facts.

Heres David's latest story from today's Lewiston Tribune:

MOSCOW - The proposed Hawkins Companies shopping center has been characterized by opponents as a potential siphon threatening the Palouse groundwater supply.

But officials here Thursday said shopping malls, in general, are water misers when compared to other developments, such as housing projects.

"They (retail malls) don't use much water," said David Richardson, utility operations supervisor for Moscow. "As a rule, there's not a lot of consumption in those stores."

That assessment was confirmed by Shelley Bennett, co-owner of the Eastside Marketplace mall here. "They use astronomically less water," Bennett said.

The Palouse Empire Mall, for example, has one public restroom. And while the various restaurants and some of the stores within the mall have kitchens and individual restrooms, water consumption is minimal when compared to a similar number of homes, Bennett said .

Nonetheless, the city of Moscow has appealed Hawkins' attempts to secure water rights for the 700,000-square-foot mall. Critics say Moscow is using the water issue as a legal lever to stop large-scale retail development within its city limits and across the border in the Moscow-Pullman corridor.

Hawkins, after failing to gain approval to locate in Moscow a few years ago, is attempting to build just across the state line in Whitman County. Officials there have welcomed the development and chastised Moscow.

Whitman County Commissioner Jerry Finch said Moscow officials not only refused to provide sewer and water hookups to the Hawkins site, but also poked their legal noses into Washington to file appeals against a transfer of water rights that would enable Hawkins to drill its own wells.

Bennett, a real estate broker, said Moscow continues to miss out on opportunity. "I don't know why the city of Moscow isn't selling them (Hawkins) utilities," she said. Moscow's sewer and water infrastructure abut the site of the proposed mall.

Finch blamed Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney for not just refusing to be part of the Hawkins development, but also apparently trying to keep it from occurring.

Chaney said she appealed the transfer of water rights to Hawkins to ensure the region's water supply isn't mined beyond what's already happening.

Experts have said the underground aquifer for Moscow has been dropping about 1.5 feet annually. But researchers have, for the most part, stopped short of declaring a water crisis in favor of saying a water management challenge is at hand.

Finch and the two other Whitman County commissioners, Greg Partch and Michael Largent, will hold a second public comment meeting Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Whitman County Courthouse. The meeting stems from Hawkins' recent request for the county to issue $10.5 million in bonds to pay for infrastructure, including water and sewer services, for the shopping center.

Finch, who has worked with Hawkins for about three years on the proposed mall, said the company can no longer afford to foot the entire bill because, in part, Moscow has stymied progress on the project.

Five members of the Moscow city council, however, confirmed they are willing to renew talks with Hawkins. And company spokesman Greg De Voe said Hawkins has always been willing to talk with Moscow. It remains unclear, however, who might make the first step toward such talks, especially with the water rights appeal hearings still scheduled for March.

Partch suggested last week that Moscow dropping its appeals might be the first step toward improved relations and shared economic prosperity.

"Both sides willing to work together; New Moscow council members say they'd sit down with Whitman County officials, try to mend rift"

Don't you just love the no-growth liberal elitists' standard cover story? "We're really not against growth. It's just that the location of fill in the blank is bad." PARD claims Wal-Mart should be outside of town on the highway to Lewiston and Moscow councilman Tom Lamar (of the Moscow Civic Association) says a 740,000 square foot shopping center (more than 3 times the size of Wal-Mart) would be better off inside Pullman city limits.

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Relations between the city of Moscow and Whitman County could become a little warmer in the near future.

Newly elected councilmen Dan Carscallen, Wayne Krauss and Walter Steed say they would be open to trying to mend differences with officials in Whitman County and possibly even help Hawkins Companies develop its proposed shopping center just across the state border.

"I am open to having a dialogue with Whitman County on any subject and this development in particular," Carscallen said. "I am all for meeting with Whitman County and the city of Pullman and whoever.

"Let's all get together and see if we can get along."

The issue that has created the most tension between the two sides is Moscow's appeals of three water-right transfers that have stalled Hawkins' proposed 700,000-square-foot shopping development on the Pullman-Moscow Highway that would be anchored by a Lowe's home improvement store.

In its appeals, Moscow argued that each water right was located in two different bodies of public groundwater and that the transfers would impair existing water rights, not be in the public's best interest and would improperly modify the manner of the rights' intended use.

The development is expected to eventually provide at least $1.8 million a year in sales tax and property tax revenues to Whitman County.

Krauss said he hopes both sides can start working together for their mutual benefit.

"I would certainly hope we can open up some dialogue with Whitman County," Krauss said. "I think it is time we forgot about the imaginary line - which is the state line - and remember we are working toward the same goal and that is the prosperity of the two communities."

Whitman County Commissioner Jerry Finch said he welcomes the opportunity to speak with the Moscow City Council.

"I think it is fair to say some of the new Moscow council has expressed interest in having better relations with Whitman County," Finch said. "This water thing has gotten contentious.

"I want to have a good working relationship with these people and that doesn't mean you won't have a difference of opinions," he added. "I personally can't stress enough that I want to have good relations with my local government neighbors as much as my own personal neighbors."

While Finch hopes the county can mend relations with Moscow, he is not sure the revamped City Council will carry enough weight to repair short-term relations or provide a solution to the current water rights battle.

"I am not quite as optimistic about that as others," Finch said. "Long-term, I would like to get some open dialogue going.

"There seems to be a consensus that the new council has stripped power away from the mayor, but (Nancy Chaney) still is the mayor," he added. "Obviously, the political reality of Moscow has changed a little bit and I certainly wouldn't turn a cold shoulder to having discussions with those people."

Hawkins representative Jeff DeVoe said his company has been and will continue to be receptive to a meeting with Moscow.

"Hawkins is always open to talking with Moscow about anything they would propose," DeVoe said.

Carscallen said meeting with Hawkins to iron out differences could be a possibility, and one that could save both sides money in the long run by eliminating the need for lawyers and costly legal battles over water rights. "I'd rather cut out the middle man and not pay" lawyers, Carscallen said.

One additional possibility that could be discussed is Moscow extending its water and sewer services to the site of Hawkins' proposed development. Carscallen said that would provide revenue for the city while providing a needed service for Hawkins.

"I think it's something that can be explored," he said. The water "is all coming out of the same tub, so why not do what is advantageous for the city of Moscow? If there is a way we can work together to make this mutually beneficial for us and Whitman County I want to do that.

"A lot of people have been saying it's all about water," Carscallen added. "If that's the case the same people would be against it on the Idaho side."

The development could get off the ground sooner rather than later if progress is made between the sides and Moscow drops its water-rights appeal with the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.

"I think it is fair to say we would love to have the city of Moscow withdraw their appeal and that project could move ahead full speed," Finch said. "What we want and what the reality is could be a long way away."

Councilman Tom Lamar said he also is open to talking with Whitman County officials, but he would not be in favor of selling city services outside of city limits.

"As the city of Moscow, we really want to be addressing the needs of the citizens of Moscow," Lamar said. "To me, it doesn't seem right to be selling our services outside of the city limits. If it's development taking place in Moscow I feel differently about providing the water or sewer rights."

Lamar said he also likely would not be opposed to the development if it was taking place in the city limits of Pullman or Moscow. Keeping the development out of the corridor would keep traffic flowing smoothly and would leave the corridor open for other potential transportation options, like a U.S. Highway 95 bypass.

"I don't think it is good to put this development in the corridor," Lamar said. "There's a reason why we have cities and that is why we should be building in the cities. If it's in Pullman I think that is a great idea. If the location of the facility is in a different place, then all of these comments have to be reorganized.

"There are multiple issues involved and it's important to look at all the different components - nothing is so simple to just say pro or con."

If the development was located within city limits it also would eliminate issues with water rights because the shopping center would be connected directly to existing city services in either Pullman or Moscow.

Lamar said the costs associated with constructing public infrastructure at the development's proposed site will be staggering in the end.

"I think in the long run it will be a net loss for Whitman County because those services are expensive," Lamar said. "It ends up costing the residents of Whitman County in the long run."

Finch believes Moscow's concerns are more about location than water and cost.

If the situation were reversed, "I can say we would be sitting over here being envious, but we wouldn't do anything to hinder it," he said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Whitman County commissioners will take public input on a plan to sell $10.5 million in bonds to pay for public infrastructure at the site of a proposed shopping-center development in the Pullman-Moscow corridor.

WHEN: 2:30 p.m. Jan. 22

WHERE: Whitman County Courthouse

"Hawkins project: Time for neighbors to be neighborly"

Another bang-up editorial on the Hawkins development from publisher Gordon Forgey in today's Whitman County Gazette:

The Hawkins development on the Pullman-Moscow corridor should not be the cause celebre that it has become.

It idea is simple: Some unused land in Whitman County which lies on the major, just-improved highway between Whitman County and Latah County in Idaho has been selected for the site of a new commercial development.

Whitman County backs the development. It promises the start of a growing tax base for the county. New jobs and new opportunities for locals will come from the development.

Few in Whitman County see a problem with opening up the corridor to development. It is already a busy thoroughfare for interstate traffic, much of it due to the strong retailing base in Moscow, Idaho, just across the border.

The problem is that some in the city of Moscow do not want to see development outside its domain. The mayor of Moscow is leading the charge on trying to stop any new development on the Whitman County portion of the corridor. Water, or actually the supposed lack of it, is the reason being used to styme the development. Moscow has appealed Whitman County water rights transfers to squelch the deal.

Even so, new development in Moscow has not been slowed by the claim of a water shortage. A housing development of over a hundred new homes has been approved and will soon be built despite the claim of a water shortage.

Whitman County helped engineer the water rights transfers. Now, because of Moscow’s interference, the county is looking into public bonding to bring water to the area. It is a new, expensive strategy, but one that may make the development a reality.

With the county’s new strategy on the table, it should appear to those in Moscow that Whitman County is committed to the project and to the potential of the area.

Part of this new strategy should include reaching out to Moscow for a better solution.

Moscow officials also have the opportunity to be good neighbors and to realize that the shared water resources should, in fact, be shared. It is not credible that there is enough water for as yet undefined growth in Moscow while there is none for controlled growth in Whitman County.

"Residents voice support for Hawkins proposal"

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Residents, county officials mostly in favor of selling bonds to pay for public infrastructure at site of proposed development

Whitman County commissioners heard mostly positive comments from about 30 residents and county officials who gathered Monday to discuss whether the county should pay to provide public infrastructure at the site of a proposed development just across the border from Idaho.

Boise-based Hawkins Companies has asked the county to sell $10.5 million in bonds that would be used to pay for public infrastructure for Hawkins' proposed 700,000-square-foot shopping development in the Pullman-Moscow corridor.

Hawkins also has requested that the county enter into a public-private partnership in constructing public infrastructure - such as a new water system, roads, sidewalks, and a sewer system - for the site west of Moscow. The partnership essentially would amount to Hawkins being responsible for the construction of public infrastructure and Whitman County agreeing to purchase it back at a predetermined price.

The complete details of the proposed partnership have yet to be decided, but once the bonds are repaid the county would own the infrastructure and water rights Hawkins has been battling to secure. Hawkins would have to pay the county monthly utility fees for the services, in addition to property taxes.

Commissioners wanted to use the 30-minute meeting to give the public a chance to weigh in on the controversial development and the bonds required to provide the public infrastructure, even though the commissioners have the final say in the decision.

"All of us commissioners, knowing how big this issue is, have been really interested in hearing comments from people, both positive and negative," Commissioner Michael Largent said during the meeting. "The more we can hear from the people we represent the better."

Members of the Pullman-based group Businesses and Residents for Economic Opportunity used the meeting to show their support for the development.

April Coggins, BREO co-chairwoman and a Pullman businesswoman, said she welcomes the development and that a decision to approve the bonds would benefit the county for many years to come. It also would provide infrastructure for future developments that would follow Hawkins, she said.

"I am really excited about Hawkins (Companies) developing in the corridor ... if we approve this bond future generations will benefit."

BREO member Tom Forbes said the development would just be an extension of the shopping centers that already exist on the Idaho side of the border and would not cause clutter or too much traffic congestion, as some of the development's opponents have suggested.

"Many opponents of this - especially those in Moscow - are referring to this as the sprawl mall and nothing could be further from the truth," Forbes said. "It's reasonable growth and smart development and I am very much in support of it."

Forbes also expressed hope that a new City Council in Moscow will alter the city's approach to the development.

"It is our hope that we can once again work cooperatively with the city of Moscow to everyone's benefit versus the contentious relationship we've had for the last couple of years," he said.

Not all comments were favorable. Colfax resident Bob Schultz said he's not so sure about selling bonds to cover expenses that should be incurred by Hawkins rather than the county.

"It almost sounds like they got in over their head in a down market and they are asking the citizens of Whitman County to bail them out," Schultz said.

Commissioner Jerry Finch said in a "perfect world" Hawkins would pay for 100 percent of the costs, but because of unforeseen circumstances - like lengthy and costly appeals over water rights - the project's price tag has become much more than Hawkins anticipated.

In March, Hawkins applied for the rights to transfer 120 acre-feet, or 40 million gallons, of water to its proposed development in addition to exchanging 100 acre-feet of a 391-acre-feet water right to Colton for 23 acre-feet of water.

The Whitman County Water Conservancy Board approved the transfers in July, but the Washington State Department of Ecology reversed its decision to approve the transfer that involved a surface-water diversion from the South Fork of the Palouse River. Ecology approved the other transfers.

Hawkins and the city of Moscow filed separate appeals with Washington's Pollution Control Hearings Board in November following the Department of Ecology's decision. Hawkins appealed the denial of the surface-water diversion from the South Fork of the Palouse River, while Moscow appealed the three approved transfers.

Hearings for the appeals are set to begin in March.

Finch said Hawkins officials have hinted they may ax the development if a deal between the company and the county can't be reached.

"They've made it very clear that they're either going to have us as a partner, or I think they're going to walk," he said.

The time to move forward and make a decision is fast approaching, Finch said.

"We are working on the concept that if we aren't going to step up and be involved maybe we aren't deserving of it," Finch said.

Representatives from Hawkins and Moscow did not attend the meeting.

A second public meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in the courthouse.

A final decision is expected to be reached Jan. 28.

"Whitman County commissioner says it's time for action on Hawkins plan; Private-public infrastructure partnership under consideration"

From today's Lewiston Tribune:

COLFAX - The proposed Hawkins Companies shopping center development adjacent to Moscow is not inevitable and the time has come for some tough decisions to be made, officials said here Monday.

"If we aren't willing to step up and be involved, maybe we don't deserve to have it," Whitman County Commissioner Jerry Finch said of the proposed 700,000-square-foot development.

Hawkins, a Boise-based company, last week asked the county to issue bonds to the tune of $10.4 million and enter into a private-public partnership for infrastructure construction, including water and sewer services for the development.

"I think in a perfect world, they should do this (pay for the infrastructure) 100 percent on their dime," Finch said during a public comment meeting on the proposal.

But Hawkins, said Finch, has been stymied by lost time and ballooning costs, much of it linked to Moscow officials who refused to provide water and sewer services, while mounting a legal challenge of Hawkins' attempts to secure its own water rights.

"I've been working with Hawkins people, along with my public works department, now for about three years," Finch said, "and we've finally got to the point where we either have to step up and move on, or we have to say, basically, we don't have an interest in you. Take your development ideas elsewhere."

About a dozen people attended the meeting. Several spoke out in favor of the development. No one spoke against it, but a few people questioned the need for taxpayers to help fund a private business venture.

"The board of commissioners can do this bond on their own authority, I'm told," Commission Chairman Michael Largent said. "However, since it's such a large issue we wanted to give people an opportunity to comment about how they felt about this project."

No Moscow officials attended. But Tom Forbes, spokesman for a group called Businesses and Residents for Economic Opportunity, called for introspection on the part of Moscow mayor and councilors. "It is our hope that we can once again work cooperatively with the city of Moscow to everyone's benefit," Forbes said, "versus the contentious relationship we've had for the last couple of years."

Moscow's water and sewer lines abut the Hawkins acreage. And a majority of members on the new Moscow City Council said last week they'd be open to renewed talks with Hawkins and Whitman County.

Finch has said the Hawkins shopping center would mark the beginning of stepped-up retail development within the Moscow-Pullman corridor.

Gary Kopf, whose family owns several hundred acres within the corridor and has already developed some property, said he favors infrastructure, perhaps coming from both Moscow and Pullman. Several people agreed that would make more sense than forcing each new business to build its own water and sewer system.

Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, who appealed Hawkins' water rights, reiterated last week her intentions are to ensure the entire region's water supply, not stop retail development.

Barring Moscow dropping its appeals and becoming part of the shopping center development, Hawkins will apparently need the county's help, Largent said. "We're not going to make public investments until those water rights are secured."

The appeals aren't scheduled to be heard until later this spring. Moscow has requested mediation. Whitman County has requested an expedited appeal process. Jeff De Voe, spokesman for Hawkins, said last week that the company hopes to begin construction this year.

"They've invested quite a bit of money," Largent said of Hawkins. "I believe the issue they have with water rights transfer ... has increased the development costs to such a point that they're asking for a public-private partnership to keep this project a reality."

While specifics of the partnership are still unclear, once the bonds are paid off the county would own the infrastructure, including the water rights, the three commissioners agreed. The company would have to pay the county monthly utility fees for the services.

"They've made it very clear that they're either going to have us as a partner, or I think they're going to walk," Finch said.

Commissioner Greg Partch said public-private agreements, such as the Hawkins infrastructure proposal, are common throughout Washington when trying to attract larger businesses. But several at the meeting agreed Moscow officials caused most of the problems.

"This has been ongoing since the fall of 2005. And it's now over two years later that Hawkins has got to this point," Forbes said, "and I think it's fair to say ... that we would probably be a lot further along in a regulatory permitting process if not for the series of appeals filed by Moscow."

A second public comment meeting will be conducted here today at 2:30 p.m. in county commission chambers. Hawkins Companies representatives are expected to attend.