Councils move forward with EDA grants
County makes changes to the process
RACHEL CAVANAUGH
News Editor
Klickitat County has changed how it will review project proposals for the roughly $350,000 it gives out annually in economic development grants.
Instead of the city and community councils making recommendations, the county will now require a complete list of all proposals received.
The communities will prioritize those lists; however, the ultimate decision will remain with the county.
“They will stick to the priorities as much as they can but they want to see everything this year, so [it’s] a little bit different process,” said Mike Canon, director of Klickitat County’s Public Economic Development Authority (EDA).
In part, he said, the idea is to make sure all potential recipients know about the grant money and can take advantage of the opportunity. In the past, Canon said, groups have voiced frustration over how communities have advertised or handled the proposals.
“They felt left out,” said Canon. “This will address some of that concern.”
He also said if the county sees a complete list it can suggest alternative funding for groups that didn’t make the cut.
At this point, Canon said, the EDA has a limited amount of money and will give priority to community projects that offer the most “bang for their buck.” He said they want to see projects go through that will benefit the largest number of people throughout the county.
A fire truck, for instance, would offer services to large parts of the county, as opposed to an event or feature that only affects people within that community.
Every year, organizations compete to get a share of the EDA grants, which have average requests of $20,500. In the past, the funds have gone to entities such as school districts, fire districts, parks and recreation, and event committees, among others.
This year, the City of Goldendale received five proposals. None of the proposals have yet been voted on or prioritized.
In the order presented to council, the first was from the Central Klickitat County Parks and Recreation District for $11,300 for a youth soccer program and pool repairs. The second was for the Goldendale Fire Department for $33,000 for expired turnout gear for safety measures.
Third was the Brighter Goldendale Christmas Committee for about $14,900 for lighted candy canes and speakers; fourth was the Goldendale Saturday Market Association for $10,000 for advertising, two portable toilets, and miscellaneous market items.
Last was a proposal from the Klickitat Valley Health hospital for help building a heli-stop.
Other community councils have received their proposals too. The ones that follow are in no particular order of priority:
In Klickitat, the town’s citizen’s council received four proposals: first, an internal proposal for $16,000 for a feasibility study on the community center; second, from the Klickitat Little League for $7,200 for bleachers and dugouts; third, from the council for cleanup funds for $7,200. Last, from the fire district for $14,200 for a fire truck and heating.
In High Prairie, the community council received a proposal from the fire district for about $20,000 for help with a fire truck loan and to improve safety at the community center.
In Lyle, the community action council has received three requests. First, an internal request for $8,500 for a gazebo in their green space. Second, from the fire department for about $24,600 for several public safety projects and equipment. Third, from the school district for $8,500 for retaining walls and landscaping.
In Dallesport, the community council received two proposals, both from the fire district. One was for $17,000 for an upgrade and maintenance on its pumper truck and the second was for $9,000 for sporting equipment for its youth program.
In Bickleton, the community council has put in a request for $27,500 for two projects including rodeo grounds maintenance and startup funds for the council.
In Glenwood, the community council received two proposals— one for $20,000 for an exercise room in the school and another from the fire district for $5,000 for furniture and items in the new fire hall.
Other communities that are part of the EDA’s charge include Alderdale, Appleton, Centerville, Snowden, Roosevelt and Wishram.
In the west end of the county, Husum/BZ, Trout Lake, Bingen, and White Salmon also have projects in the works.
The deadline for the county to receive grant proposals is Dec. 8. A decision will be made in February.
Panel decides on recommendation for Goldendale’s events contract
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
A Goldendale panel has made a decision about who to recommend for its events coordinator contract – a choice that will be announced next week.
The decision, according to treasurer, Tracy Hansen, is between Golden Event Planning, headed by Lorraine Reynolds, and the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce.
“They’ve made their decision as a panel of who or what they want to recommend, but that has not been made known,” said Hansen.
At this point, she said, nobody knows how the panel will suggest the City Council vote.
The panel’s recommendation is not final – it must still go through a City Council vote, which will take place at the next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 1.
The seven-member panel was set up by the City in an effort to make the selection process as objective as possible, according to Hansen.
It consists of four members at large — Lori Anderson, Terry Campbell, Andy Halm, and Lynette Enstad; as well as three council members — Joe Abbott, Mable Eaton, and Gary Hoctor.
The three council members were selected by Mayor Arletta Parton and the four at large members were picked by the City. Hansen said they sought people who were either small business owners, highly involved in the community, or had a history of supporting events in town.
“There were a lot of names kicked about and it came down to these four,” said Hansen. “I think it was a really fair selection.”
The panel met last Tuesday to review the proposals, along with facilitator, Carole Garner, and Public Works director, Keith Grundei.
Grundei was chosen as an individual to attend on behalf of the City.
“We felt as a City it should not be Arletta, Larry [Bellamy], or myself,” said Hansen. “We didn’t want there to be any perception in any way we were playing favorites, skewing the process…it has to be this group of seven, period.”
This week, all panel members remained tight-lipped about the decision.
Reynolds, of Golden Event Planning, has been the events coordinator for the City close to four years. The choice to put out a request for proposal (RFP) was made in September.
The announcement was made following controversy over how to proceed with events in Goldendale and damage at the fairgrounds during Labor Day’s Festival of Speed. However, the City emphasized the RFP is something that takes places every three to four years regardless and was not in any way linked to those circumstances.
Reynolds said she will support whichever decision is made.
“I feel okay with whatever they come up with,” said Reynolds. “I know that money is a big issue. If the Chamber can bring the same quality of events to town that I did for less money, then I’m very supportive of their decision.”
Len Crawford, President of the Chamber of Commerce, said at this point it is up to the panel and the City Council.
“We have absolutely no idea which way it’s going to go. Matter of fact, it hasn’t even been discussed at the Chamber,” said Crawford. “Either way - no matter how it comes out - the Chamber will do right by the community.”
Fish and Wildlife intervenes in power project at idle smelter
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The state departments of Fish and Wildlife in Oregon and Washington have filed notices with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to intervene in the planning of the proposed Cliffs Energy Pumped Storage Project.
By filing notices of intervention, the departments are given legal standing and are to be consulted and notified of all hearings and proceedings in regard to the project and to produce evidence and examine witnesses in the proceedings.
The interventions are part of the process set in motion by NSC Smelter’s filing of a proposal to conduct a feasibility study for construction of a turbine power plant involving water pumped from the Columbia River’s Umatilla reservoir.
NSC Smelter is the owner of the aluminum plant near the John Day Dam.
The original filing for a feasibility study was made on Sept. 18. On Nov. 13, the applicants filed a revised application to add the name Golden Green Energy Storage LLC, a Delaware LLC, which like NSC Smelter is a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Northwest Aluminum Holding Company.
At the end of the 60-day comment period, FERC will make a determination as to whether the feasibility study may proceed.
If the study gets a green light, they will have three years to conduct a feasibility study, providing progress reports to FERC every six months.
It also places the company in line ahead of any subsequent proposals that may be received by FERC.
If approved, the study will look at the feasibility of constructing two dams. One would be on NSC Smelter’s property on the bluffs, northwest of the plant.
Proposal documents identify activity on sections six and eight of T3N-R17E. Water would be pumped from the Umatilla reservoir to form a pool covering 219 acres with 14,000 acre-feet of water.
A 25-foot diameter, 8,000 foot-long, concrete lined pipe would run from the upper reservoir to a lower reservoir near the aluminum plant, with a similar capacity on 209 acres.
A new power transmission line would be built from the new switchyard, five miles to the John Day Dam substation.
According to Scott Tillman, of NCS Smelter, the two-reservoir project is designed to supplement wind farm production.
As wind power becomes a significant proportion of a electric utility provider’s energy, the variability in wind generation becomes a significant factor in their delivery of power during peak use times. The reservoir system transfers water up and down the pipe between the two reservoirs, generating electricity on demand from four, underground turbines.
The system is called hydro-pumped storage and is in use in other areas around the country, including Grand Coulee Dam via Banks Lake. A similar system has been in use in California for 25 years at the Helms pumped storage plant.
It is said to be an efficient method to store energy to meet peak demand and compensate for dips in wind power generation. It is said to “store” energy by holding water in the upper reservoir, waiting to be discharged through the turbines to the lower reservoir when needed.
The project includes a preliminary feasibility study, estimated to cost $200,000 to $400,000 with completion at the end of 2010, and a subsequent feasibility study estimated to cost $2,000 - $4,000,000.
The proposal can be accessed at the FERC library on-line at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Choose “docket search” and enter docket number P-13291.
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