<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div></div><div>Courtesy of today's (January 25, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.</div><div><br></div><div>------------------------------</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: 24px; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 27px; ">Group files lawsuit against county, Hawkins</span><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); line-height: 24px; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><strong style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">By Kelli Hadley, Daily News staff writer</strong></p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">A group calling itself the Organization to Void Illegal Conduct has filed a complaint through Superior Court against Whitman County and the Hawkins Companies, claiming that among other issues, Whitman County commissioners did not comply with the Open Public Meetings Act in their decisions leading up to the agreement with Hawkins.</p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The organization, described as a Washington nonprofit corporation, is represented by Timothy Esser of Esser & Sandberg, PLLC in Pullman. In the complaint, members are described as "Whitman County residents, taxpayers and property owners."</p><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Esser said the organization formed Jan. 3, the same day the commissioners passed the amended agreement in a 2-1 vote, and is largely composed of constituents who attended the meeting and hoped to provide input.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"Not one of them is opposed to growth, and they are all very experienced, successful, longtime Whitman County businessmen and women," Esser said.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">In the agreement amended from the original 2008 contract with the Boise-based firm, Hawkins asks the county for $15 million to reimburse for public infrastructure in the Moscow-Pullman corridor just west of the Idaho state line. In exchange, Hawkins agreed to supply two big-box stores in a 700,000 square foot shopping center at the site.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The first issue in the complaint alleges Commissioners Greg Partch and Patrick O'Neill, who voted in favor of the agreement, communicated with each other outside of public meetings and approached the Jan. 3 meeting having already agreed to the outcome, as both came with prepared written statements. Esser said doing so is a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. Even so, if the commissioners had adopted the action at the public meeting and allowed public input, that would have "cleansed" the violation, Esser said.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"In this case, they didn't allow that public input, so that still makes it a violation," Esser said.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Esser said the county has 20 days to respond to the complaint and Hawkins has 60, as they are being served outside the state of Washington. An additional problem outlined in the lawsuit claims Hawkins is not yet a registered agent within the state, which is required if they want to execute a contract with the county.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"For some reason Hawkins has not complied with that law and does not have a registered agent," Esser said. "Here you're contemplating a $15 million public fund project, and you haven't bothered to do business in the state."</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Hawkins Representative Jeffrey DeVoe said the company could not comment on the complaint as of Tuesday afternoon.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Prosecuting Attorney Denis Tracy has expressed his concern over legal and economic "flaws" in the agreement, stating that the contract has the county paying for infrastructure it would not own, particularly $5.3 million planned to be spent on grading of the development site. The lawsuit filed by OVIC brings up the same concern, stating that "in reality the contract between Whitman County and Hawkins calls for taxpayer funds to be utilized for private improvements in violation of the Washington State constitutional ban on gifts of public property."</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Tracy is and will remain the commissioners' legal counsel in the matter.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"I have read it, and the plaintiffs have some interesting legal theories," Tracy said. "We've scheduled a meeting with the commissioners Monday afternoon to discuss how they'd like to proceed."</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Partch declined to comment on the lawsuit until the commissioners' discussion with Tracy next Monday. Commissioner Patrick O'Neill could not be reached for comment.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Commissioner Michael Largent, who opposed the agreement, said the issue is now in the hands of the attorneys.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"Constitutionally the prosecuting attorney is our attorney unless the Superior Court judge determines differently on appeal by the commission," Largent said. "I don't plan to appeal, and I have no reason to believe he wouldn't do a fine job."</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Esser said nobody in the organization accuses the commissioners of "bad faith," but they disagree that the decision was made in the best economic interest of the county.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"Nobody is questioning their integrity, but how it's been carried out calls into question the enforceability of the contract," Esser said.</p></div><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The ultimate goal of filing the lawsuit, Esser said, is to void the amended agreement and find clarification as to exactly how money will be spent.</p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); "><div class="encrypted-content" style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">"If it would be for anything other than public improvements, we ask for a permanent injunction prohibiting that," Esser said. "They could schedule a new public meeting and theoretically re-enact the contract."</p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); ">------------------------------</span></p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); ">As Charlie Rich so aptly stated . . .</span></p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); ">"Oh, no-one knows what goes on behind closed doors . . . "</span></p><p style="font-size: 17px; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-color: initial; float: none !important; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; color: black; background-image: none; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font: normal normal normal 17px/24px 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); "><img src="cid:DE0EA38E-FED8-465A-BC02-F7584D299015" alt="image.jpeg" id="DE0EA38E-FED8-465A-BC02-F7584D299015" width="612" height="791" apple-original-width="612" apple-original-height="791"><br></span></p></div></span></p></div></span><div>Seeya later, Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Hansen</div><div>Post Falls, Idaho</div><div><br></div><div>"If not us, who?</div><div>If not now, when?"</div><div><br></div><div>- Unknown</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></body></html>