Vote on new Grant PUD class scheduled for Aug. 28
Cheryl Schweizer <Staff Writer> | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 3 months AGO
EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners will approve, reject or send back for more work a proposal for a new “emerging industries” rate class at the Aug. 28 commission meeting. Opponents and proponents of the new Class 17 had something to say about the proposal at the commission’s Aug, 14 meeting. The proposal was prompted by a flood of requests for service in summer and fall 2017, and been the subject of exhaustive study. Many requests came from people in the cryptocurrency industry, which uses relatively new technology to process transactions and information. That led PUD employees to propose a separate class for businesses using new technologies - or new kinds of businesses - which includes an assessment of risk. The resulting proposed rates are higher than the existing Class 1 and Class 7, where most of the businesses are now. Utility district employees are recommending that the rates be phased in over a three-year period for existing customers. Emily Smith, representing the Grant County Economic Development Council, said the council was in favor of the new rate class. “We strongly support the immediate implementation of Class 17,” Smith said. Grant County has missed out on opportunities for new business due to the uncertainty over the power supply and cost, Smith said. Jeff Bishop, executive director of the Port of Moses Lake, cited businesses that had considered locating in Grant County but in the end had gone elsewhere, one to Portland and another to Georgia. Bishop said the uncertainty around electrical supply also is affecting the decisions of businesses that want to expand in Grant County as well. Port of Moses Lake commissioner Kent Jones said in his opinion the uncertainty has had a negative effect on attracting and retaining business. Current cryptocurrency owners protested that the Class 17 rates were too high, and had suggestions they said would alleviate some of the risk for PUD. Jonathon Toomin had a proposal for revised rate class, suggesting an upfront yearly fee and a curtailment policy. Aiden Kilek proposed letting the existing customers stay in their current rate class and adding a premium for risk factors. Brian Snyder said he thought the Class 17 proposal was flawed, putting unprecedented rate increases on Class 17 customers. He asked why existing cryptocurrency customers couldn’t be left alone; they are no threat to other customers, he said.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER <STAFF WRITER>
Othello School Board approves property purchase
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board has approved an agreement to purchase 81.14 acres of land along 14th Street and Lee Road. The district will pay $2.4 million to the current owner, Terra Gold Farms. The draft agreement was approved during the regular board meeting Monday. The land is located at Lee Road between Seventh and 14th streets. Assistant superintendent Gina Bullis said there are no plans to build on the property now, but district officials plan to keep it as a site for any additional schools. The sale should be completed by the end of January. In other business, a discussion of a site visit to Wahitis Elementary prompted questions about traffic on 14th Street. Construction closed part of 14th Street during the spring, summer and fall, including the stretch in front of Wahitis Elementary. Prior to construction the road had a four-way stop outside Scootney Springs Elementary, but the stop signs were removed during construction and haven’t been replaced. Board member Juan Garza said he had received inquiries about the stop signs, and whether they would be reinstalled. “It sounds to me like they (the stop sign removals) are permanent, right? It’s going to stay that way.” Bullis said she had received inquiries too, and had asked city officials about them, including a question at the Othello City Council meeting earlier Monday evening. City manager Wade Faris told her, Bullis said, the city wasn’t required to reinstall them. The original purpose was to eliminate some of the congestion on 14th, Cemetery and Ash streets when kids and parents were coming and going from Scootney Springs. City officials think the extra lanes will accommodate any congestion, she said. Board member Mike Garza said the stop signs were installed as the result of a traffic study conducted by the district at the city’s request. He asked if the city had done an additional traffic study prior to removal. Bullis said city officials didn’t give a reason for the change. Mike Garza also asked if city officials planned to paint crosswalks across 14th Street at Wahitis Elementary. “I noticed there are no crosswalk designations across 14th” at the school, he said. Bullis said she would ask city officials.
Othello School District land purchase moves ahead
OTHELLO — The Othello School Board is scheduled to review a draft purchase and sale agreement for 78 acres of property along Lee Road at its Oct. 10 meeting.
Othello School Board discusses 14th Street with city officials
OTHELLO — Traffic, traffic flow and pedestrian safety, especially for elementary students, were the subjects of a lengthy discussion at the Othello School Board meeting Monday.