Klickitat County could escape gloom and doom
As holiday season downturns wreak havoc at state level, local retailers may do okay
RACHEL CAVANAUGH
News Editor
Klickitat County’s business community may have escaped the economic downturns this holiday season that have hit retailers hard in other parts of Washington.
According to owners of local gift shops, boutiques, bookstores, florists, and apparel outlets, they are “hanging in there,” despite losses at the state level.
Some owners have even reported figures being up from last year.
“I listen to the news and I think, ‘wow, I don’t see that here,” said Peggy Woodard, owner of Adonai’s Christian Bookstore in Goldendale. “I just feel like small towns have a blessing that bigger ones don’t.”
Len Crawford, president of the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce, said the trend could partly be due to the small size of the community or the fact that many businesses are focused on essentials rather than “disposable income” items.
“All in all, I think in Goldendale we’re in a better position than they are in say, Portland or Vancouver,” said Crawford. “We’re seeing some of it, but not nearly what they are in the bigger metropolitan areas.”
Debra Clark, owner of Clark’s Floral, said the lackluster economy may in some ways be a benefit for her store.
“Typically, if the economy is bad in the rest of the world, so to speak, we do better,” said Clark. “How we’ve rationalized that is people don’t leave town as much. They try to conserve.”
Others pointed to summer gas prices. More yet attributed it to the county’s rural atmosphere.
Whatever the reasoning, business owners agree on one thing: they are pleased to see the relative steadiness, especially with the next four weeks being so critical to success.
In other parts of Washington, stores have suffered significant losses. In a statement released on Nov. 19, for instance, the Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) predicted bleak numbers for this period.
“The credit crunch has knocked the wind out of an already weakening national economy,” said ERFC’s Arun Raha. “Consumer and business spending have stalled as access to credit has been choked off, and confidence has worsened.”
Although he noted statewide losses would be “muted” compared to other places, a sharp decline in consumer spending will make the impact on state revenues more severe.
“Washington’s economy is not immune to these headwinds,” added Raha.
And even with local business owners remaining positive, Klickitat County has not completely remained impervious either.
In Goldendale, for example, the Washington Department of Revenue showed the city reporting just $12.58 million in taxable retail sales for the second quarter of 2008. The figure is down almost $1.5 million from the same period last year, when numbers were at $14.02 million.
The period of loss ranged from April through June, which was just months before the financial crisis came to a peak in September. Numbers are not yet collated for this quarter, but it is likely they reflect similar losses.
Dan McCredy, owner of the McCredy Company in Goldendale, said he thinks it is still too early to predict how December will unfold. He said his store has taken basic precautions just in case.
“We’re a little more cautious this year with how we’re purchasing and stocking the store,” said McCredy.
When asked if they are “bracing themselves” for the holidays, Shay Davenport, of K-C Pharmacy, said they were a bit.
“I think everybody is,” said Davenport, “I think everybody’s in the same boat on this.”
Consumers had mixed thoughts when asked how their spending habits will change. Some said they will be tightening their holiday gift budgets, while others said they would not be affected.
Goldendale resident, Monica Gourley, said her family has been spared some of the downturns, but has noticed it in other parts of the community.
“I can see it just in general, how people are spending their money. Their priorities have changed, definitely.
“We’re tending to be more careful in what we do because it’s going to hit harder, probably.”
Goldendale City Council votes Chamber as events contractor
Rachel Cavanaugh
News Editor
The Goldendale City Council voted to award its contract for events coordinating to the town’s Chamber of Commerce this week.
The vote followed a recommendation by a seven-member panel, which was set up to evaluate the choice between the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce and current events coordinator, Golden Event Planning, owned by Lorraine Reynolds.
Monday evening, Lori Anderson spoke on behalf of the panel:
“[The] committee recommends the City of Goldendale to enter into contract negotiation with the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce for tourism information and promotion services,” said Anderson, reading from the recommendation sheet.
There were four reasons cited: First, that the Chamber better addressed requirements outlined in the proposal request. Secondly, it better illustrated how to work within the budget. Third, the Chamber demonstrated an ability to measure returns on investment (ROIs) for tourism dollars spent.
Last, the Chamber has an ability to provide a central point of contact for tourism-related questions.
Anderson was selected to speak for the panel, which also included members at large Terry Campbell, Andy Halm, and Lynette Enstad; as well as three council members — Joe Abbott, Mable Eaton, and Gary Hoctor.
The panel was set up last month by the City in an effort to make the selection process as objective as possible. Two weeks ago, it met to interview the candidates and review the proposals, along with facilitator, Carole Garner, and Public Works director, Keith Grundei.
Reynolds, of Golden Event Planning, has been the events coordinator for the City close to four years. The choice was made in September to put out a request for proposal (RFP) when her contract ends in December.
“I am terribly disappointed,” said Reynolds on Monday. “I poured my heart and soul into bringing top quality events to Goldendale. I worked unbelievable hours and my passion for making Goldendale a place to be was a top priority for me.”
She did note, however, that her congratulations go to the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber president, Len Crawford, expressed enthusiasm for the new endeavor.
“We’re excited about it, obviously,” said Crawford. He said the Chamber will seek tourism promotion as well as general events planning.
“Events is only one focus of tourism,” added Mindy Blomquist, executive director of the Chamber. “That’s one of the things we addressed when we made our proposal.”
Anderson backed the statement up, saying the Chamber had a more “comprehensive” proposal, which included numerous charts, graphs, and numerical data.
One example was an instance where occupancy rates were proved from hotels to illustrate ROIs. Anderson elements such as those were what tipped the scales in favor of the Chamber.
“One of the important things it came down to was having measurable results about how tourism planning is bringing people into the community – how you can show how what you did is bringing people in,” said Anderson.
The funding for tourism, which the Chamber will now take over managing, ranges from $36,000 to $45,000 per year, and is generated from the hotel-motel tax.
One of the questions posed to the candidates during the interviews last month was what they could accomplish with that money.
Other questions included, “What events would you keep and why?” “What skills and qualifications are essential to the success of this position?” “Why do you want this contract?” “How would you characterize your relationship with the City?” and “What are your ideas for working with the City in the future?”
Anderson said she does not see the Chamber changing events planning dramatically, although she imagines there will be new things, such as the renewable energy fair next year.
From here, the process enters the negotiating phase between the Chamber and the City and is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
Dallesport industrial park moves forward
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
The Klickitat Department of Economic Development has resubmitted a Mitigated Determination of Non-significance (MDNS) for infrastructure development at the Airport Business Park in Dallesport.
According to Economic Development director, Mike Canon, the move was necessary to prevent the loss of $1 million CERB loan-grant.
The initial MDNS, submitted last December, included the proposed Sundoon Destination resort and recreation complex. That plan was appealed by Columbia Riverkeeper.
“The (Columbia Riverkeeper) were not so concerned about the business park upgrades, it was more about the golf course and resort,” said Canon. The resubmitted MDNS deals severs the business park upgrade from the Sundoon complex. The proposal is to install water, sewer, utilities and sidewalks for 17 lots in the 43 lot industrial park. According to Canon, there are a number of businesses expressing interest in moving into the park, once those upgrades are complete.
The delay puts the grant/loan in jeopardy. “We have already had two extensions,” said Canon. It continues to delay economic development in that part of the county.”
The proposal states that the Airport Business Park improvements are independent from Sundoon and will proceed whether or not Sundoon is developed.
Goldendale resident killed in Hwy 97 crash
Goldendale resident, David Holladay, was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 97, just north of Goldendale, Saturday morning.
According to Washington State Patrol (WSP), Holladay was driving a 1987 Nissan Sentra, northbound between the junction of Highway 142 and the exit to Rimrock Road, when he collided with a pick-up driven by Michel Francisco, of Wenatchee.
Authorities said they believe Holladay drifted off the road, re-entered the highway and slid across the road into the southbound lane where he was struck broadside by the pick-up.
The road conditions were described as “bare and wet,” by officers.
Holladay was not wearing a seatbelt
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