Rayonier Mill, Harbor-Works PDA, Local Taxes, Public Input
I don’t have a firm opinion one way or the other on this; it’s a complicated contentious issue. Today’s PDN has an excellent letter to the editor that raises some important questions. The few other times I’ve reprinted a PDN letter, I’ve left out the author’s name. But the author of this letter, Norma Turner, has been active in local politics, and I’m assuming she would want her name used.
Here’s the entire letter:
Here’s the entire letter:
The Peninsula Daily News’ series about Rayonier mill property from February 8th through 10th underscored why the Harbor-Works Public Development Authority chairman said it would take 12 to 18 months to complete “due diligence” on the site. Forbes Business Website defines due diligence as “the care a reasonable should take before entering into an agreement or a transaction with another party.”
The board approved completing the purchase and sale agreement by April 2009. (“Harbor-Works wants mill site by April. P.A. agency to use loans to buy Rayonier property,” Feb. 5th PDN.) How did eighteen months get reduced to three?
Harbor-Works is funded with local tax dollars — but spends it without customary public-purse safeguards. Every executive-level position has been filled without public advertisement, including one at $195 an hour and another at $125 an hour. Two weeks ago they decided to hire somebody who did not even apply for the position, relying instead on private conversations.
The total cost to taxpayers of acquiring the Rayonier site remains a huge unknown. Cost was one of several important issues never answered at the City Council/Port of Port Angeles meeting. PDA ownership of Rayonier’s property means a loss of at least $50,000 a year in property taxes. Responsibility for removing the pier, if it is removed, is estimated at $4 million by the State Department of Natural Resources, and the site cleanup costs cannot be determined until the extent of contamination is fully known and remedies are selected.
Rayonier’s aggregate market value is more than $3 billion. It’s 2007 annual financial report reports a “very good year,” with plans to raise stockholders’ dividend payments. Meanwhile, the state and local governments’ balance sheets are grim. Why are local tax dollars being spent on this project?
Labels: City Council Port of Port Angeles, due diligence, Harbor-Works Public Development Authority, Norma Turner, State Department of Natural Resources Rayonier
posted by Tom Harper at 9:18 PM
11 Comments:
Our tax dollars should not be spent on this at all! The City does not have the best interest of the citizens in mind. Spending a ton of money for something on a "maybe" way down the road. How can they be stopped?
Tom, whatever will you do when the PDN closes down?
I doubt if that'll happen, but if it does I'll have to start looking for a real newspaper to read.
Why are local tax dollars being spent on this project?
Do you know how many words I would have to type to try to explain that?
The short answer is that the folks running the city are business people, or wanna be business people and they want that property to develop.
And they want you to pay for it !!!
How about a meat report: The tenderloin steak (thick) George gave me from Costco Sunday was the best I’ve had in my eleven years here. I soaked a steak in a bowl with some beer, garlic flakes and celery salt overnight and slow cooked it at 200 degrees with a lid over it and it was very good. The other one is going to soak for a few days before I enjoy it.
A real newspaper in this town? Ha ha ha.
The editor of the local rag is a christian businessman. And a phony and a fake only concerned in his own interests and the interests of his cohorts.
Anyone that thinks they really care about us (actually you being as I'm not in the city limits) is delusional.
It's about them, not the rest of you, they just snowball you to get what they want because they think they are so important to this town. I think not.
Six good old county boys and gals could run this town better than those morons do.
Cherie Kidd was born and raised here but was gone for many years doing the stars in her eyes crap.
Washed out on that so returned here after a divorce to try to become a big fish in a small pond, and it looks like she is getting there.
I give credit where credit is due though, she is damn good at it. But it's about her glory, not yours.
She'll always think that she is above you.
anonymous 2:05 pm - "when the PDN closes down" ROTFLMAO
That's cruel and unusual to tease us like that. That's like telling somebody in a wheelchair "when you're walking again."
We all hope and pray that that dimwit redneck rag will "close down" but it will probably outlive everybody who's reading this.
This whole Rayonier-Gateway-8th St. Bridges debacle is a microcosm of our federal government in general. Taxpayers cover the upfront expenses, the people in charge keep all the profits, and if there are any financial problems along the way, those same taxpayers will happily bail out the contractors and VIPs. Repeat as needed.
It seems like the city leaders are blind of the fact that there is a recession/depression and it's business as always for them.
As if they don't have to tighten their belts like the rest of us. They think they can ignore the national and global picture and buck the trend?
There isn't going to be money to develop that property for some time so there is no hurry to rush into ownership of it.
It will still be there later when things do start improving, when later is remains to be seen, it may be years from the looks of things.
I'll just be thankful if things don't get a lot worse, I'm okay with no growth for a while.
If they can't afford the right thing to do about a swimming pool, either fixing the old one or building a new one, I don't understand their delusions about other projects.
It's not about us...the people who live in PA..it's about $$$$ and lining pockets. We have a very dysfunctional 'good ol boy network' that only cares about putting bucks in their pockets. No civic pride. No concern about the people.
All these things are back room deals. This town is as crooked as they come...
I dunno bout youse, but I laiks the PDN. Good readin whiles I waits at the DHHS with my old Lady an the young 'uns!
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