[Vision2020] Sell-Outs: Senator Gary Schroeder and Moscow City Councilman Walter Steed

[Garrett Clevenger]

If the city had not signed their secret agreement with Hawkins, its possible Hawkins may not have been given water rights. It's possible they may not find enough water where they drill now. It's possible that if they use water from their own well, it won't affect Moscow's water. It's possible it will. 

It seems that the closer the source of Hawkins' water is to ours, the more likely we'll see an impact. If Hawkins uses Moscow's water, our need to expand our water system (drill deeper or whatever) will be more likely than if Hawkins used its own water. In other words, Idaho users may have to pay more money for its water than if Hawkins took car of itself. Will that be covered by the revenue generated by selling water? Will that be on top of potential lost sales tax?

Whatever the case, it is completely unnecessary for Idaho to change its water laws to make it easier to sell water out of state. There already is a mechanism in place for Idaho to sell water out-of-state.

If the city sells water under the proposed bill, they'll probably have to supply an unlimited amount of water to them. However much water Hawkins wants, Moscow will have to sell them. That will make it even worse than if under the secret agreement.

Facilitating out of state development by not fully using what options are available to have more control over that development, only will make out-of-state developments more likely. It definitely seems more inviting for developers, at least.

Whitman County did commit bond money to build infrastructure to Hawkins. If Hawkins is built, they'll still want to develop the corridor. Only they'll have even more reason to build the infrastructure: to add to the development around Hawkins and increase its potential profitability.

Why should Idaho essentially subsidize Whitman County's growth, when that growth will directly compete with Idaho? If we reduce the costs of Whitman County's subsidy to corridor development, that only gives them more money to invest in further corridor development. Unless Idaho gets something significant from that, it seems irrational to put Idaho tax dollars into the corridor's development.

Why couldn't the city, in its agreement, asked for more things that would lesson its impact on Moscow. Would it be possible to arrange sharing sales tax with Whitman County? Could Hawkins be forced to be smaller? Adopt strict water recycling methods?

If the council didn't jump right in bed with them, they could have taken more time to think about ways to maximize its influence.

The council people who voted for the secret agreement used reasons that don't stand up to the facts. The council initially said the city could charge a premium price for the water sold to Hawkins, but that now is seen as unrealistic. They said the city was about to spend tens of thousands of dollars, when they were not at that point in the process. And then you have the conflicts of interests muddying the decision making process.

Admittedly, it does seem like we're in a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario and perhaps we need to make the best of things. But that still doesn't mean it couldn't be better. The city still had better options in my mind, and it doesn't need the state to change the water laws.


Most people see the reported 1 to 1.5 foot yearly drop in the aquifer and realize that can't go on forever. Eventually, there will be too much demand for it to sustain, and everybody will pay the price for unwise planning.

I grew up in an area that sprawled out in strip malls. Every time I visit my folks where they live now, there are new strip malls. That's what's coming to the corridor. Personally, I dread that, as it will change the flavor of this area while in my mind taking away from the value of what the Palouse is. Why do we have to become like Everywhere, USA? Why can't we have leaders who are willing to plan rationally how this area grows, rather than seemingly let it become retail strip mall hell?

I see nothing wrong with our elected officials thinking about these issues, and trying to find ways to prevent that from happening, particularly when those developments are designed to compete with Moscow.

Garrett Clevenger