Future of jobs in Goldendale holds promise
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
A brighter future may be on the way for Goldendale’s economy, town officials said this week.
Renewable energy, a growing wine industry, and steady small business growth are three pillars in an economic development plan coordinators have been putting together in recent months.
The campaign, which is a joint effort by the City of Goldendale, Klickitat County, and the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce, seeks to foster new businesses while retaining and growing others.
“I think the sense that things are beginning to happen is starting to blossom here,” said Mike Canon, Director of Economic Development for Klickitat County. “The town is taking on a better appearance.”
Since January, there have been 10 new businesses opened within the city. The figure may not seem significant, but considering the stagnation of previous years, chamber members called it “huge.”
Len Crawford, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said the figure is a sign of change and vice president Barbara Cosner agreed.
“It could have been 10 businesses closing however many years ago,” she said.
The city, which issues business licenses to Goldendale and its surrounding areas, has seen a slow increase in the last three years. In 2006, for instance, there were 368 licenses and the following year there were 374.
Then, in 2008 alone, 340 business licenses emerged. That means in half the year the city gave out 90 percent of what it had in the previous year total.
Construction is also on the rise.
Last year, for example, there were 16 new building permits granted, which is more than the previous three years combined.
At the moment, one of the city’s goals is to get a business incubator program into its industrial park, which has currently been sitting almost empty with eleven vacant lots.
The program would allow a small business or group of entrepreneurs to receive start-up funding as well as regular consulting and advice. It also might attract further growth.
As for the rest of the park, Goldendale administrators have hired an agent from the Portland-Vancouver area to begin aggressively marketing the land. Right now, there are four operations inside the park.
“The industrial park is ready to go,” said Canon. “We’re just having problems getting business in there…They just don’t seem to know about it. It’s not on their map.”
Meanwhile, Klickitat County has embarked on a “very serious effort,” according to Canon, to get a viable company working out of the idle Columbia Gorge Aluminum (CGA) plant.
Canon, who recently returned from a four-day wind energy conference in Houston, said prospects for manufacturing, assembly, and service in that field are excellent for the plant.
At the moment, the region has about 10 operational wind farms and a half dozen more under construction or in permit stages.
An assembly plant, he said, could provide hundreds of jobs and manufacturing would also be a very large workforce. Possibilities include turbines and blades and, beyond wind, the idea of solar panel production.
Although he stressed no decisions have been made, CGA’s Chief Operating Officer, Mac Seyhanli, said the “non-performing asset” becomes more pressing with time.
“Every passing year the likelihood of a decision increases,” said Seyhanli.
According to Canon, the facility’s high-capacity overhead cranes, high ceilings, and strong floors make it ideal for another major factory to move in.
“It’s a huge facility,” Canon said. “That building is absolutely priceless to be able to use for some type of manufacturing or assembly.”
Most smelters, he said, have moved overseas. With alternative power remaining one of the strong U.S. industries, it has become common nationwide to see energy businesses converting old factories.
In the Midwest, for example, wind plants have been buying old car manufacturing warehouses and turning them into turbine producers.
Beyond the city and county’s efforts, a private group is scheduled to meet at the smelter plant this week about the possibility of using it to convert cars from gas to electric.
In Goldendale, the up and coming need for service is also expected to create a secondary industry. Because wind is so new, most turbines are still under warranty, but as those begin expiring, plant managers will need service contracts.
Wine is an industry that may create new jobs, one Canon called a “solid, long-term” field.
Meanwhile, as plans for new job creation get thrown on the table, the Chamber of Commerce has been working to fuel existing business.
Projects have included a revamped website, a Goldendale business directory, affordable reader board messages, monthly business owner meetings, monthly after-hours networking functions, a partnership with local art organizations, and a free calendar to post community events.
Since January, the chamber has 28 new members and, in the first six weeks, their website generated 726 first-time visitors.
Overall, the town officials agreed the years of economic downturns are beginning to shift. Buildings turning out each month with new paint and crumbling facades have given way to refurbishing.
The downtown aesthetics are changing along with the mentality, which Crawford said is the most important element.
City Administrator Larry Bellamy said it is important now for people to prepare for upswings by learning new job skills. He pointed to classes in wind energy at the Columbia Gorge Community College, among other things.
“If you’re willing to go and get yourself some education and make yourself knowledgeable in that field, then the possibilities are much greater,” said Bellamy.
“There does appear to be some hope with the renewable energy field…Likewise, there is potential in the wine and winemaking industry as well.
“I think one of the key things is people need to think about being trained and educated in these areas to assist them in being employable.”
Canon said he predicts it will be three to five years before “noticeable signs of prosperity” surface, but the move towards it has already begun.
“I think we’re in the very earliest stages of that,” said Canon. “People are beginning to realize change is coming. We’re seeing literally the tip of the iceberg of what’s going to happen here.”
KVH hospital board in split
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Hospital commissioners in Goldendale voiced a split opinion this week over whether or not to renew their contract with Brim Healthcare, the facility’s management firm.
Although each commissioner will wait on more information before making a formal decision, the dialogue differed from person to person at a meeting last week.
The five-member board of the Klickitat Valley Health hospital (KVH) met Wednesday with administrators and a Brim agent for the second of three scheduled public forums.
Several audience members spoke their opinions and, among commissioners, there was a range from skeptical to hopeful to apparently neutral.
“I truly believe it could go either way,” said Jeff Teal, KVH Hospital Development Director.
The vote is expected by late July or August and could be as soon as the next public meeting, tentatively scheduled for July 7.
Michael Macy, who was appointed to the board in March, was perhaps the commissioner most uncertain about Brim.
“I’m struggling with the whole thing,” said Macy. “I question whether Brim is the problem or if they’re maybe the easy excuse right now.
“I have absolutely no doubt we could run the hospital by ourselves.”
Macy stressed, however, he has not yet made a decision.
Wayne Claussen, who has served the hospital the last 27 years, said he has leaned towards renewing the Brim contract, but not heavily. If the vote were today, he said he would truly be undecided.
“I’m waiting for some more information,” said Claussen. “I have no problems with what Brim has done. In fact, they’ve done everything they said they would.” He said he likes the idea of renewing the contract in part because he remembers the days of bad CEOs, poor financial management, and the subsequent $1 million of hospital debt.
He said Brim helped them dig out of that debt.
“I just get kind of a sense of security maybe. You’ve got a few more checks and balances with a management company …Some of those things they’re blaming Brim for are really not Brim’s issues.”
With a new CEO hunt looming on the horizon, several people at the meeting said it might be beneficial to have a management firm taking care of that decision, which can be costly. Steve Kinder, who represents Brim at the Goldendale hospital, said the search could cost $50,000 to $80,000.
Other opinions ranged.
Secretary Jim Daniel said he started out in favor of Brim, but is now neutral. A rift in the community, he said, caused him to question whether the company is essential and he is “open to alternatives.”
“I’m trying to be as objective about all of this as I can,” said Daniel.
“I think it is somewhat naïve of us to think this was going to be an easy or comfortable process to change,” said Commissioner Bill Martin, who also has not made a decision.
Board President Ron Ihrig said he too is neutral, but if they go with an outside firm, would be “directed to go with Brim.”
The management firm was contracted through the hospital in late 2003 to overcome financial problems. At the time, the contract was about $135,000 per year.
Current estimates range up to $170,000 and it is unclear if that would increase under a new contract.
The hospital has done extensive research to determine how much dollar value the company brings in. Key questions at Wednesday’s meeting were whether or not a management firm is needed at all and, if so, whether Brim is the best company to do it.
Administrators said hospital staff are either for or neutral about the company. The public appears to have the most objections.
One of the main criticisms has been an audit from 2003 to 2005 that reported several negative findings. Among them were an administrative failure to comply with open meetings, incorrect employee retirement contributions, and improper payment logging.
“It was the worst audit the hospital has ever received,” said former hospital finance committee member Ken Adcock. “The very worst. Brim violated the law.”
Adcock, who has been one of the more outspoken public Brim opponents, said the company is also responsible in part for bringing in a union due to poor management.
If the hospital needs external help, he said, it should seek a more competitive company.
“Brim is not the only kid on the block,” said Adcock. “If this hospital is going to go ahead with outside management, they should have a competitive bid.”
However, administrators said problems Brim dealt with were leftover from previous management and noted issues on the audit were corrected by the time it was published.
“You have to remember this is a three-year audit,” said Teal.
In all, however, Teal said the dialogue is healthy for the hospital and reflects a strong board.
“It’s very positive to have this diversity on the board,” said Teal. “This is the first big issue they’ve had to deal with since having five members.
Fearing calls for living wage jobs
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
Fourth Congressional district candidate George Fearing made an appearance in Goldendale Friday.
The candidate, who spoke at a Klickitat County Democrats meeting, listed living wage jobs and scenic area protection as among his top priorities.
“Klickitat County needs more jobs and I would like to see some companies come here to develop alternative sources of energy such as wind power,” said the democratic candidate.
“If we don’t do something soon, that aluminum plant is going to be torn down and used for parts.”
The Tri-Cities-area attorney, who cited listening as one of his political strengths, likened the legislative process to practicing law.
“A congressman is like a lawyer,” he said. “You represent people and you put aside your own interests.”
Other issues the candidate touched on included public financing in campaigns, cleaning up the Hanford nuclear site, and changing current war policies.
“When I say I’m a pro-life democrat, I mean I do not support 4,000 lives being lost in Iraq,” he said. “I’m a pro-life democrat who believes we need to care for our GIs when they come home.
The candidate is running against Republican incumbent Congressman Doc Hastings.
Although the Kennewick man said he firmly believes in the harmful effects global warming and runs a democratic platform, he is not the typical liberal.
For example, the son of a Christian minister is a staunch advocate of Second Amendment gun ownership rights and said he wants to bridge party barriers.
“I’m here for republicans and democrats, I’m here for rich and poor, and I will listen to everyone.”
The congressional hopeful was joined at the democratic meeting by other candidates Jerry Gaines, running for District Three County Commissioner, and District 15 State Representative candidates John Gotts and Tao Berman.
Issues on those candidate’s platforms included job creation, accessible healthcare, recycling, education, and ending the war. They also talked about bringing local services to the community.
“We don’t have enough senior citizen facilities,” said Gaines, who is from Bickleton. “We don’t have enough after school activities for the kids.”
“I like Klickitat County and I want to make a difference. I want to make it the best county around.”
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