[Vision2020] no superwalmart and water

[Jeff Harkins]

Joe,

Thanks for response.  And to what "negative generalizations" are you 
asserting that I opine to?

At 09:42 AM 6/20/2006, Joe Campbell wrote:
>No one is claiming that there are negative aspects to growth, Jeff.
>
>The claim is that there are negative aspects to growth at any cost, 
>growth without foresight and planning. Leave that poor, straw man, 
>Mr. No-Growth, alone!
>
>And by the way, why aren't your negative generalizations below just 
>as much poppycock as Mr No-Growth's negative generalizations?
>
>--
>Joe Campbell
>
>---- Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>=============
>Matt and Mark,
>
>The scare tactics being used to limit growth and development in Latah
>County are far from over.  It is going to require a substantial
>effort to counter the claims made about the negative aspects of
>growth.  But if the adults in this community rise to the challenge,
>we will be able to promote growth and assure a prosperous future for
>our children and grandchildren.
>
>Let me just offer a couple of insights on the "water supply" issue
>raised by Solomon.  He and his followers want you to believe that we
>have a water supply problem.  Of course, with an average rainfall of
>24 inches per year falling on the 1077 square miles of Latah County,
>that equates to about 418,176,000 gallons of water per square
>mile.  Just run that out over the total square miles in Latah County
>and one discovers that we have access to about half a trillion
>gallons of water each year.  Water consumption for Moscow and Pullman
>is estimated to be about 2-3 billion gallons each year.  Of course
>Whitman County also receives about 24 inches of rain each year.  As
>you can surmise, we don't have a water supply problem.
>
>They usually counter with the claim that they are concerned about the
>ground water system and that with the aquifer dropping about 1 to 1.5
>feet per year, we are doomed to run out of ground water.  Although
>there is dispute about the actual size of the deep water aquifers,
>testing seems to validate that the aquifer is at least 400 feet deep
>- some state it is deeper.  Look at these numbers -  and lets assume
>that we can only use about 25% of the available aquifer depth - about
>a 100 feet.  Using these conservative estimates, we might see a
>decline in our ability to provide ground water in about 100
>years.  That would seem to be an adequate amount of time to figure
>out how to contain some of our surface water (rainfall).
>
>Notice how the tax question you raised was shunted just to property
>taxes.  Once retail sales move to Whitman County, we will experience
>an enormous loss of sales tax revenue.
>
>Matt - keep posting, keep raising the awareness of your friends and
>neighbors to these issues.  Today, the anti-WalMart group is
>attempting to restrict where you and your family can shop - what will
>they attempt to control next?
>
>At 05:21 AM 6/20/2006, you wrote:
> >Matt,
> >
> >Read my previous posts and columns on why it is unlikely that the
> >Hawkin's development will be built (water supply) and the difference
> >in taxation structures between Idaho and Washington that diminishes
> >the importance of sales tax revenues in the general scheme of things
> >in Moscow. Sure, there would be an increase in property tax revenue
> >if a building was built in Moscow, but that can be of a very
> >fleeting nature  witness the dark Tidyman's building and the 33%
> >reduction in assessed value now that it is dark. That spiral down
> >will continue each year it is empty as part of the commercial
> >property assessment formula is an "income test".
> >
> >Mark
> >
> >At 10:25 PM -0700 6/19/06, Matt Decker wrote:
> >>Mark,
> >>
> >>How was the party? Was everyone giving high fives to the fact that
> >>Wally world is gone? Did we all have a good time since this was the
> >>best for Moscow? I myself laugh in dismay wondering why we push
> >>these companies 100 feet over the border.
> >>
> >>Now the new rumor is Walmart is trying to move in with the Hawkins
> >>development. Well hey you won. You might have managed to push them
> >>over to Whitman county, allowing hundreds of thousands of dollars
> >>of tax revenue to be spent over there. My kids will hopefully have
> >>a new school by the time they are 16, but not at this rate.
> >>
> >>Face it Mark, tax money is crossing the border. Why shouldn't we join in?
> >>
> >>Matt
> >>
> >>>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
> >>>To: Jeff Harkins <jeffh at moscow.com>, "Bill London" <london at moscow.com>;,
> >>>     vision2020 at moscow.com
> >>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] no superwalmart -- Tribune report
> >>>Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 07:13:00 -0700
> >>>
> >>>Jeff,
> >>>
> >>>I never said I was not concerned about the loss of sales tax
> >>>dollars. I did say that due to the ID sales tax distribution
> >>>formula and the difference in tax structures between WA and ID,
> >>>the weight of sales tax revenue in the decision to approve or
> >>>disapprove a motor business rezone in Moscow was a minor part of
> >>>the issues to be considered, especially as the Pullman supercenter
> >>>was expected to siphon off the Pullman trade that had been coming
> >>>to Moscow.  Let's remember that we were not given a choice between
> >>>building a store in Pullman or Moscow: the Pullman store was well
> >>>on the path toward approval while the Moscow store had not even
> >>>been heard of. And to answer your question ahead of time: I would
> >>>have opposed a Moscow supercenter even if it was the first out of
> >>>the blocks as we already have a Walmart and a Winco.
> >>>
> >>>Beyond that, hats off to Schweitzer for building their business in
> >>>the Palouse. We all benefit.
> >>>
> >>>Mark S.
> >>>
> >>>At 12:27 AM -0700 6/18/06, Jeff Harkins wrote:
> >>>>Commissars
> >>>>
> >>>>Yes, this was disappointing news - the loss of this retail
> >>>>investment is tragic.  But, perhaps WalMart will reconsider the
> >>>>Pullman location and move the supercenter store to the corridor
> >>>>(and close the current Moscow location).
> >>>>
> >>>>Grocery patrons can then enjoy sales-tax-free grocery purchases -
> >>>>and get all the shopping benefits of a supercenter - without
> >>>>actually having to have one in Moscow.  I recall Solomon and
> >>>>others not concerned about loss of sales tax revenue since there
> >>>>is not a direct return on those dollars to city coffers.
> >>>>
> >>>>With the new four-lane road, access should be great and my guess
> >>>>is that there will be more than adequate parking. In all
> >>>>likelihood, WallMart will allow the Moscow-Pullman shuttle bus to
> >>>>use their location for a bus stop.  Proximity to Bike trail will
> >>>>make two-wheel access easy.
> >>>>
> >>>>I had the chance to visit the new Kennewick WalMart supercenter
> >>>>store a couple of weeks ago.  They had a very good organic food
> >>>>section (most of the produce locally grown - Tri-Cities area) and
> >>>>the best selection of Mexican/Spanish condiments I have seen 
> outside of Mexico.
> >>>>
> >>>>Oh, that hissing sound you hear - don't worry about it.
> >>>>
> >>>>Perhaps it passed your noting, but front page of Daily News also
> >>>>carried a story about job growth in Pullman.  It was noteworthy
> >>>>to see that Schweitzer Eng. will expand its manufacturing
> >>>>facilities in Pullman and add another 300 jobs. Presumably the
> >>>>initial infusion of salary dollars to Pullman will be
> >>>>approximately $20 MM dollars annually (300 jobs at $65,000).  As
> >>>>those salaries are converted into product (all of which are
> >>>>exported utility grid and related components), the gross effect
> >>>>to the Pullman area could exceed $50 MM annually - as a point of
> >>>>reference, that is about $15 to $20 MM higher than the total
> >>>>annual gross production of agriculture in Latah County.
> >>>>
> >>>>Meanwhile, our own local brain trust is busily crafting their
> >>>>vision of the ultimate planned economy ... high rise condos and
> >>>>apartments within one mile of downtown?  Mixed use neighborhoods
> >>>>with easy access shopping, electric car repair and laundramats -
> >>>>???????? Will neighborhood taverns be allowed???
> >>>>
> >>>>  ... and Beebe withdrew his proposal for Grain Elevator Condos????
> >>>>
> >>>>I wonder if the town center will be paved in red bricks?
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>At 04:09 PM 6/16/2006, you wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart shelves Moscow super center
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>By ELAINE WILLIAMS
> >>>>>of the Tribune
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart has put plans for a super center in Moscow on the back burner.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart will not pursue a location on the southeast corner of
> >>>>>Mountain View Road and Highway 8, east of a former Tidyman's
> >>>>>site and near Eastside Marketplace, said Karianne Fallow, a
> >>>>>spokeswoman for Wal-Mart in Boise.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>"Wal-Mart has decided to re-evaluate our opportunities for a
> >>>>>super center in Moscow,'' Fallow said in a Thursday announcement.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>"While we're fully committed to continuing to serve our
> >>>>>customers on the Palouse, we can't continue to delay our
> >>>>>relocation plans at this time,'' Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart will continue to operate its existing Moscow store, 
> Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart will also seek to open a 223,000-square-foot super
> >>>>>center on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman, Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>That project has been appealed by Pullman Alliance for
> >>>>>Responsible Development in Whitman County Superior Court.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>And Wal-Mart will also look for alternative super center sites
> >>>>>in Moscow, Fallow said. "We still continue to view Pullman and
> >>>>>Moscow as two very distinct markets.''
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Fallow said Wal-Mart has no plans to build a super center in
> >>>>>Lewiston at this time. Rumors about such a store have been
> >>>>>circulating in Lewiston for months.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Wal-Mart's decision is directly related to action taken by the
> >>>>>Moscow City Council last month, Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>The panel rejected a request to rezone 77 acres from
> >>>>>agriculture-forestry to motor business, a designation that could
> >>>>>have opened the door for a number of big-box retailers on the site.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>At the time, the council indicated that a rezone request for a
> >>>>>lesser amount of property might be acceptable.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>But Wal-Mart isn't interested in following up, Fallow said. "The
> >>>>>city council has continually changed the rules of the game. And
> >>>>>creating a guessing game for any kind of development is a very
> >>>>>expensive endeavor.''
> >>>>>
> >>>>>First the land needed to be rezoned and then how much needed to
> >>>>>be rezoned wasn't clear, Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Then it wasn't possible for the store plans to be reviewed
> >>>>>before the rezone and other parts of the process were settled, 
> Fallow said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Attempts to reach the city's elected officials Thursday
> >>>>>afternoon by e-mail were not successful. All of them were out of
> >>>>>town, most of them attending the Idaho Association of Cities
> >>>>>conference in Lewiston.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>"We certainly respect the decision Wal-Mart has made,'' said
> >>>>>Bill Belknap, assistant city supervisor. "We wish them the best
> >>>>>in their endeavors.''
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Mark Solomon, a coordinator of No Super Wal-Mart, said Moscow
> >>>>>already has the services a Wal-Mart would have provided at its
> >>>>>own store and in retailers owned by Palouse residents.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>"It's great news that the most predatory retailer on the planet
> >>>>>won't be gaining any larger presence in Moscow,'' Solomon said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Solomon's group already had a party planned for 7 p.m. tonight
> >>>>>at the 1912 Center in Moscow to mark the previous zoning
> >>>>>decision of the city council. "There will be additional cause to
> >>>>>celebrate Moscow's vitality,'' Solomon said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>But Fallow said it's wrong for Moscow residents to view her
> >>>>>employer's decision as a victory. "With a super center comes
> >>>>>additional jobs, additional tax revenue. You name it, there are
> >>>>>a lot of benefits to having a super center in the city.''
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Solomon disagreed. Wal-Mart jobs replace better paying ones in
> >>>>>existing local businesses, Solomon said.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>------
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Williams may be contacted at ewilliam at lmtribune.com or at (208)
> >>>>>743-9600, ext. 261.
> >>>>>=====================================================
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> >>>>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >>>>>http://www.fsr.net
> >>>>>mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> >>>>>====================================================
> >>
> >>
> >>>=====================================================
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> >>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> >>>                http://www.fsr.net
> >>>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
> >>>====================================================
> >>
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>
>=====================================================
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