Klickitat County votes send Moxee resident to Olympia
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
David Taylor, of Moxee was selected to represent the 15th district by vote of the county commissioners representing Klickitat, Yakima, Clark and Skamania Counties.
The selection of Taylor was made in Goldendale on Monday, at the conclusion of a meeting of the 12 commissioners, who cast eight votes for Taylor in the first and only round of voting. White Salmon's Jacob Anderson received four votes and Don Vlieger received no votes.
The three candidates were nominated by the Republican Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) from the four counties, following a meeting on Mar. 21. Jacob Anderson was the top recommendation of the PCOs, with Taylor second and Vlieger third.
At the Monday meeting, each candidate made a five-minute presentation and responded to questions from the commissioners in a meeting which was open to the public. Each candidate had a two minute final comment period before the commissioners cast their votes.
All three Klickitat County commissioners joined Yakima County in casting their votes for Taylor. Skamania County was unanimous in their support of Anderson, while Clark County was split with two votes for Taylor and one for Anderson.
Taylor, who served as the director of the planning department in Kittitas County, works as a private consultant, raises horses and has a cow-calf operation. As a consultant, Taylor's main focus has been land use and water issues. He advertises his business as consulting in policy development, government relations and land use.
When asked by Klickitat County commissioner, Dave Sauter, for assurances that he would represent Klickitat County, Taylor indicated he would follow the model set by Rep. Bruce Chandler, Sen. Jim Honeyford, and former Rep. Dan Newhouse, whom he is replacing. He described that model as communicating with officials and residents and attending functions throughout the district. He also said he will call upon his connections through associations that he belongs to, such as the Farm Bureau and Cattleman's Association.
Many of the questions posed to the candidates dealt with ability to raise money and be elected this fall. Taylor said he believes he is more electable than the other candidates because of "my tenacity. I don't like to fail," said Taylor.
Taylor also cited his broad level of experience in government (Taylor served six years as Planning Department director in Kittitas County) and varied private businesses. As for the fund raising, Taylor believes he can raise the money and expects to receive small donations from many people.
In his opening remarks, Taylor addressed state budget issues, saying he was against increasing unemployment benefits at this time and felt there was room for savings in government through prioritization and elimination of duplication. He also mentioned ending what he termed "free meal fraud in schools."
Taylor said he would talk to local officials and constituents to determine priorities. His legislative committee preferences are water and natural resources and local government. There were 25 days left to the current legislative session, as of Tuesday. Taylor said he was ready to be in Olympia the next day to take up his legislative responsibilities.
Goldendale looks for common goals that will link commercial sectors
Rachel Cavanaugh
Editor, The Sentinel
The City of Goldendale is looking at ways to merge the two commercial sectors of town in an effort to bolster its business community.
At present, the town is split into two commercial sectors: one downtown and another consisting of the two intersections with Highway 97. According to City Administrator Larry Bellamy, continued development at both ends of town has spread retailers out and created a "disconnect" within the sector.
The goal, he said, in the coming months, is to analyze existing zoning, land uses, and business activities in both areas in order to draft a plan of action.
"Downtown is suffering to a certain degree," said Bellamy. "Some buildings have burned...we've lost a little bit of the ambience.
"How do we tie all of that together?" the city administrator asked. "How do we make it work for everybody?"
Bellamy said the issue stems back to the 1970s when the State of Washington bypassed Goldendale with Highway 97, which used to run through town. Since then, through-traffic has been eliminated and the consequences continue "to affect the sustainability and viability of the central business district."
The problem is the City doesn't currently have any long-range, comprehensive planning or appearance standards for its commercial districts. Bellamy emphasized the objective in creating them is not necessarily to physically merge the sector into one area - although there may be elements of that - but to create unified goals. At the moment, he said, there is not a strong sense of community.
Len Crawford, President of the Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce, agreed.
"These people need to come together as a business district just as they do in other business communities," said Crawford.
The Chamber president said there has been resistance in the past. Both men agreed the roots have been a combination of apathy, lack of vision, and a certain amount of disinterest. Some owners feel it doesn't affect their business, whereas others point to the little competition in the area.
Yet Crawford said the commercial landscape is about to shift. Many business owners in Goldendale lack the foresight to see what may be ahead, he said, pointing mainly to the industrial park.
"Things are going to happen in Goldendale at a very fast pace and all of the sudden, the guy in Goldendale isn't going to be the only game in town and he's going to get left in the dust," said Crawford. "I've seen it."
The biggest key to revitalizing business, he and Bellamy both said, is to get people off the highway and into town.
Last December, Bellamy sent a request to a state planning association asking for help. In February, the Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) announced they'd received the request and had found a team to work with Goldendale.
The group is part of APA's Community Planning Assistance Team, or CPAT, and will help Goldendale draft a long-term plan. Later this month, they will hold an open house with the public to discuss goals. Business owners, retailers, shop managers, entrepreneurs, and other members of the community are invited.
The Chamber is currently putting together a list of out-of-town property owners to invite. Crawford said it will be a great opportunity for people in Goldendale, stressing that anybody can attend.
He emphasized the Chamber is committed to making the plan work and creating a thriving business community.
CPATS's Paula Reeves, who gave a presentation in Goldendale last summer, said they will work on long-term outlines.
"The primary goals of [the] workshop are to align community priorities, focus on key implementation strategies, and form an action plan," said Reeves, in a letter to the City.
Experts in economic development, historic preservation, growth management, community transportation, landscape architecture, and land use will be present. Prior to the public forum, team members will conduct a work session with local government and community leaders.
They will also nominate members of a small steering committee, made up of community volunteers.
CPAT helps communities throughout Washington that lack planning resources create action plans. In the past, they have worked with towns including Zillah, Morton, and Concrete.
The open house will be Apr. 25 at the American Legion Hall in Goldendale. For more information, call 773-3400.
Department open for input on pair of wind projects
Two wind projects were recently reviewed by the Klickitat County Planning Department and are available for public comment.
Harvest Wind Farm
The Harvest Wind wind farm's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released for public review. The project is to be located about four miles northwest of Roosevelt, adjacent to the White Creek Wind Project.
The project will require construction of 15 miles of new access roads and renovation of four miles of existing roads. Project applicants are Public Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County, Eugene Water and Electric Board, Lakeview Green Energy, Inc., and Peninsula Light Compay.
Appeals are due at the Planning Department by 5 p.m. on April 9.
Imrie Wind
The second project called the Imrie Wind Project has released a draft EIS for public review. The project, formerly known as Goodnoe II Wind Project, is proposed by Northwest Wind Partners, LLC.
Three wind turbines are proposed within the Hoctor Ridge EOZ boundary and three turbines are proposed for DNR property within the Hoctor Ridge EOZ parcels.
Copies of the draft are available from the Planning Department. Comments are due April 20.
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