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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Wal-Mart uses the “Just In Time”
(JIT) inventory system. This system eliminates warehousing of
inventory. JIT requires extensive coordination between Wal-Mart and its
suppliers. Suppliers must be able to ship required amounts of merchandise
to specific locations at the time the products are required.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Wal-Mart’s “inventory”
is either on the shelves in the store or on the road in transit. As such,
any increase in gasoline prices drastically effects costs to Wal-Mart.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Guess who ultimately pays the difference
in increased gas prices? It ain’t Wal-Mart.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Arnold</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'> goes on to state:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>“With no other discount grocery
stores in the area, like say a Super Wal-Mart, Winco can raise its prices with
no consequences, everybody has to eat.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Since WinCo is, as <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Arnold</st1:place></st1:City> suggests, a “discount”
grocery store, wouldn’t it lose its “discount” status if it
were to raise its prices to (or above) those of Rosauers or Safeway?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Or is <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Arnold</st1:place></st1:City> suggesting that Winco undercuts their
competition (Rosauers and Safeway) that they (WinCo) can charge whatever price
they want? HUH?!?!?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Moscow</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Idaho</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><font size=2 color=black
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>"We're a town of
about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college students are not very
active in local elections (thank goodness!)."<br>
<br>
- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)</span></font> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext'>
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</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;
color:windowtext'> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Paul Rumelhart<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, April 21, 2007
2:21 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020] Palouse
Monopoly Empire Mall; Gas/Food prices</span></font><font color=black><span
style='color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I could have sworn I bought food at a massive chain
store the other day in the other mall. Anyway, I don't think the Winco
retail chain is being overly hurt by UI and WSU student population
declines. Maybe this branch, but I'd like to see some figures first.
I'm also wondering if large supermarket chains, such as Winco, aren't just
raising prices all over in an attempt to cover losses in other places.
Anyway, there are alternatives to Winco. There must be, because I rarely
shop there (except to buy the occasional Pocky sticks) and I need food to
survive just like everybody else. I'd be interested to find out if local
stores, such as the Co-op, are having to raise their prices more than the
big-name stores. Presumably, this same rise in prices due to gas prices
will affect everything that is shipped by truck - not just food. Walmart
is basically built on the idea of massive transportation of goods
quickly. I'd imagine that the rise in gas prices will affect it more than
most stores.<br>
<br>
As for the honey bee problem, I'm hoping that it will work itself out the
natural way. The 40% of bees that are left will breed resistance to
whatever it is that is killing them off, and the survivors will flourish
because there is now so little competition for them individually.<br>
<br>
Also, the Palouse Mall does not have a monopoly. There is nothing that
they are doing that would stop another developer from building their own
mall. If you want to protest the high prices they charge for rental
space, don't shop there. You'll find there are a number of alternatives
out there.<br>
<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
Donovan Arnold wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Food prices are only going to go up even more for
several reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>1) The massive extinction of honey bees has created a
void in pollination of 1/3 of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> food supply. 60% of honey bees
have died, with no cure or solution in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>2) Increases in fuel prices increase
the shipping costs of food. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>3) Many crops were wiped out this year due in the
freakish winter storms. For example, oranges had a massive freeze.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>4) The UI and WSU student populations have decreased,
the main income for Winco. With a reduced volume in sales, Winco has to raise
prices to cover losses in volume sales.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>5) No competition. With no other discount grocery
stores in the area, like say a Super Wal-Mart, Winco can raise its prices with
no consequences, everybody has to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>6) The owners of the Palouse Empire Mall are raising
their rents. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I think it is obvious, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> needs competition in the area to curve
rising prices. It also needs to do some sting operations on gas price fixing
which obviously is going on. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Maybe, many of you guys should call Pat Vaughn and ask
him to reassess the property value of the Palouse Empire Mall, which is monopoly.
Perhaps if the mall can make such huge increases in their leases, the
value of the only active retail mall on the Palouse is much higher than what
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Assessor</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> has it listed as. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>If I had the time, and a personal interest at stake,
like so many of you do, I would contest the taxable value of the Palouse Empire
Mall. It is clear that it has a really high value since it is able to charge so
much for its lease spaces and has no real competition. Moscow is
probably losing $100,000s in tax revenue that could go to things like finding a
new space for the public bus to park on the west side of town, and to
give property tax breaks to locally owned businesses that are having a
hard time due to the fact no mall will let them conduct business on their
property. Just a thought to those litigious and want what's best and
for our community.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Donovan<br>
<br>
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Ellen Roskovich <a
href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com"><gussie443@hotmail.com></a></span></i></b>
wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #1010FF 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>As the cost of gas continues to climb at the pumps,
the price of food starts to rise at the grocery stores. Has anyone else
noticed this recently?</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ellen Roskovich</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><br clear=all>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2734??PS=47575"
target="_top">MSN is giving away a trip to Vegas to see Elton John. Enter
to win today.</a> =======================================================<br>
List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>
<a href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a> <br>
<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>
=======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</blockquote>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=1 width="100%" align=center>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car"
smell?<br>
Check out <a
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http:/autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-">new
cars at Yahoo! Autos.</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<pre><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></pre><pre
style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>
<hr size=4 width="90%" align=center>
</span></font></pre><pre><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> List services made available by First Step Internet, <o:p></o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <o:p></o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <a
href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'> <a
href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></pre><pre><font
size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></font></pre>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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