Re: DN editorial on corridor

[Gerald Weitz <cweitz@moscow.com>]

Priscilla's comments are on target. 

Here's an example of how the Universities could be of help. The clay
extraction project at Bovill ceased when Simplot could not make a
profit.  The profits actually were derived not from the clay as much
as from the discard (Silica).  By using the expertise of the
University to value add the clay/discard to say  product/s (paint,
etc.), leave the area environmentally sound,  supply
engineering/business expertise, help in local work force development,
etc.,  then the local rural  economy would greatly
benefit.   State/Local tax revenues would increase and the
revenues would filter down to more dollars for education, social
programs, etc..

I believe, that the original role and mission of the Land Grant
University was to help in rural development.  U of I received about
240,000 + acres to help with this objective.   Thanks for
reading,  Jerry 


At 10:40 AM 04/27/2002 -0700, Priscilla Salant wrote:
> Visionaries,
>
> The Daily News had a good editorial this morning about Whitman
> County
> Commissioners and their vote on permitting a concrete plant in the
> Moscow-Pullman corridor.  The paper took the position that the
> commissioners are unwilling to take public opinion into account in
> the
> permit decision.
>
> I agree about the importance of public input.  And I dread the day
> when we
> have four or five traffic lights on Highway 270.  Nonetheless, I've
> always
> had a sinking feeling that the Whitman County Commissioners simply have
> no
> other option but development -- WHATEVER they can get -- between Moscow
> and
> Pullman.  Like elected officials in most rural counties, they
> face
> unrelenting fiscal pressure.  Residents want more services but
> are
> unwilling to pay higher taxes.  And there is a very small tax base
> in a
> sparsely developed area like Whitman County.  
>
> The Daily News editorial board advocates "quality" development
> in the
> corridor.  But to my knowledge, not a lot of quality developers
> have
> stepped up to the plate.  I once had a pie-in-the-sky idea that the
> two
> land grant universities might help come up with some creative, bold
> thinking about how to address the commissioners' dilemma.  Boy, was
> *I*
> dreaming ...
>
> Anyone else have thoughts on this?
>
> Priscilla Salant