"Developing Story - Public comment mostly favorable on Whitman bond plan for corridor development"

From the Moscow-Pullman Daily News website:

Whitman County commissioners heard mostly positive comments from about 30 residents and county officials regarding a proposal that would involve the county selling $10.5 million worth of bonds to pay for public infrastructure for Hawkins Companies' proposed 700,000-square-foot shopping development in the Pullman-Moscow Corridor.

Commissioners wanted to use the 30-minute meeting to give the public a chance to weigh in on the controversial development and the bonds required to provide public infrastructure that would include a new water system, roads, sidewalks, and a sewer system.

Members of the Businesses and Residents for Economic Opportunity used the meeting to show support for the development proposed just west of the Idaho border on the Pullman-Moscow Highway.

April Coggins, BREO co-chairwoman and a Pullman businesswoman, said she welcomed the development and that a decision to approve the bonds would benefit the county for many years to come and would provide infrastructure for future developments that would follow Hawkins.

“I am really excited about Hawkins Company developing in the corridor,” Coggins said. “In 10 to 20 years if we approve this bond future generations will benefit.”

Not all comments were favorable. Bob Schultz, a Colfax resident, was not so sure about the selling bonds to cover expenses that should be incurred by Hawkins rather than the county.

“It almost sounds like they got in over their head in a down market and they are asking the citizens of Whitman County to bail them out,” Schultz said.

A second public meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., Jan. 22 in the courthouse.

A final decision is expected to be reached on Jan. 28.

I'll withhold judgment until I see the whole article, but as I reported earlier, Commissioner Largent asked if ANYONE present had any negative comments about the project as propsed as stated and not ONE person raised their hand. So that would be "Public comment completely favorable" versus "mostly."