One idea, posed by Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, Kimmell and others, is to hold a Pullman-Moscow corridor conference. The summit would bring together the leaders of Whitman and Latah counties, city council members from Moscow and Pullman and the presidents from both universities. They would create a plan to ensure everyone is working in tandem rather than on their own toward common goals. In reference to the proposed 200-plus acre Hawkins Companies retail development along State Highway 270 between Moscow and Pullman, Kimmell said it is a struggle to communicate effectively between the two counties.I see nothing wrong with the Hawkins project (Lowes) at all. The only issue is that Moscow is trying to oppose it. If Moscow and Latah county does not want Whitman county to develop the 270-corridor then Moscow and Latah county should give all the tax money they collect from Washington citizens who shop over there.
So far, the Hawkins project is a good example of what can go wrong when the two counties do not work together, he said.
They want to have their cake and eat it too. They get all of Washington's tax dollars. When Washington does something to stop the out-flow of those tax dollars Moscow and Latah county are trying to stop us. They want that tax money for themselves.
They want to "work together" but keep all the money for themselves.
If Moscow and Latah county want to beat Whitman county in the battle of retail dollars and tax dollars they can. Most business would love to build close to the mall and would love to take advantage of the lower minimum wage in Moscow. But Moscow is turning business unfriendly. Pullman is trying to welcome those businesses as is Whitman county. Unfortunately a few vocal people are trying to stop the business growth, not on grounds of legal means (wrong zoning area, etc), but on purely hatred towards the businesses (Wal-Mart) and the type of business (big box stores).
We need to keep fighting these people. We need to keep tax dollars in Whitman County.
2 comments:
Moscow has developed their portion of the Corridor until it can't be developed any farther. Now Moscow, Idaho is inviting Whitman County and Pullman into their decision making process regarding future development on the Washington State side of the Corridor. Sorry Moscow, we don't need an invitation to our own dance.
Well said April. It is very exciting to see this start to open up. A few weeks back Tom posted a nice thread of some of the projects, pictures and all. I saw one that did not make the list that is not any big thing BUT it has lots 'vision' behind it. That is the behind the newly formed dirt berm. In the old rock pit on the north side of Highway 270 I see that DeAtley Sand & Gravel appears to be in the process of setting up a concrete batch plant. They must see that the Pullman-Moscow corridor & Pullman is set to boom.
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