[Vision2020] Water and Sewer Agreements: reply from Walter Steed

[Garrett Clevenger]

I'm pasting Walter Steed's reply to my post yesterday
(It's a reply to me, though he thinks I'm "Jason
Hawkins" the Hawkins developer guy, as I had put his
name and phone number near the end of the message)

Garrett


Sun, 10 Feb 2008 09:52:15

Jason, Thank you for your questions.

We did ask why that particular site and the answer we
got was that they could find no land large enough and
suitable for them to use in Moscow.  I believe they
wanted to be by Moscow to take advantage of the larger
retail presence we have than does Pullman.  

Locating by Pullman would have had no impact on water
from our aquifer as it would be drawn from the same
basin.

I guess we will just have to disagree regarding the
impacts on Moscow businesses.  I believe a Lowes, for
example, would attract shoppers from outside our area
who are then likely to do additional shopping in
Moscow.  I know when we go to Costco in Clarkston or
to a specific store in Spokane, we often buy from
other businesses, including restaurants, movies and
gas stations, for which we would not have made the
trip.

Again, thank you for your concerns and inquiries.

Walter

Walter Steed
1345 Ridgeview Drive
Moscow ID 83843
Phone 208-883-0123
Fax 208-882-7184
wmsteed at aol.com



[Vision2020] Water and Sewer Agreements
Garrett Clevenger

Hello City,

I'd also like to know, did anyone ever ask Hawkins why
they chose the site by our border?

Obviously, that is presenting direct competition to
Moscow, without providing any tax revenue back.  Are
they planning to put some money into the city coffers
besides their payment for water and sewage?  

Did anyone ask Hawkins to find a location closer to
Pullman, as that would seem more "neighborly" and less
an attempt at not only sucking lots of groundwater for
from what seems an unnecessary development, but also
sucking out money that more than likely would be spent
in Moscow instead?

How do the other Moscow malls, and other businesses
feel about this agreement?

Were they consulted with and given an opportunity to
affect the discussion?

Frankly, I'm again disappointed by the city actions
over this.  You have agreed to a huge deal that you
say was your attempt to control a uncontrolable
development, and in the process, have guaranteed an
outside-the-state private entity an extraordinary
amount of water and sewage services, yet while, from
what I can tell, they can still drill a well if for
some reason they need more water.  And you did this
without, from what I can tell, allowing for a public
discussion before you agreed to your secret terms.

It seems that if the city has given in to standing up
for Moscow, perhaps people should contact the Hawkins
people?  Maybe they would be reasonable and understand
our concerns and do the right thing.  Otherwise, it
seems Moscow is doomed to have growing competition
really close to our boarder, and with the precident
set, they all are going to want a piece of the
"agreement." 

Unfortunately, Hawkins Companies LLC is a pretty big
developer located throughout the country, so more than
likely their bottom line is to make $$$.  Thanks to
the city, they saved Hawkins quite a lot of hassle and
dollars.  Quite a gift to give to a major potential
competitor...

Jason Hawkins
208 376 8522

http://www.hawkinscompanies.com/contact.htm

Sincerely,

Garrett Clevenger


--- Saundra Lund <sslund_2007 at verizon.net> wrote:

> In part, Garrett wrote:
> "Does anyone know if Moscow has similar agreements
> with other private
> parties guaranteeing them water and sewer?"
> 
> Thanks, Garrett, for asking the question because
> it's something I've been
> wondering as well.  My limited understanding from
> watching previous city
> councils is that it seems for property *outside*
> Moscow city limits to be
> able to get City of Moscow water & sewer services,
> they generally have to be
> annexed into city limits.  However comments made by
> some have made me wonder
> if perhaps I've misunderstood previous requests from
> those outside city
> limits to be served by city water & sewer?
> 
> Does anyone know how many water and/or sewer
> customers outside city limits
> Moscow has and how long the City has accommodated
> such requests?
> 
> And, since I got no response to my earlier question
> (given the breadth of
> varied knowledge of Visionaries, I thought this
> would be a good place to
> ask, but maybe not), I'm going to ask again:  can
> someone please tell me
> what effect the City of Moscow supplying water to
> the Hawkins development
> will have on our ability to meet the voluntary
> pumping limits in the Ground
> Water Management Plan?  IIRC, we've only recently
> managed to meet the 1%
> annual increase limit and we were very close to the
> top of the 125% ceiling.
> 
> 
> TIA,
> Saundra Lund
> Moscow, ID
> 
> The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is
> for good people to do
> nothing.
> ~ Edmund Burke