What are the expected costs of new medical facility, industrial/tourist park

To the Editor:

Thanks to Eric Walker’s letter to the editor (June 30, 2011) and publisher McFadden’s article of July 21, 2011, most citizens of Ritzville are familiar with the plan of the East Adams Rural Hospital Board to build at another location, a “Ritzville Medical Facility.”

On the sly, EARH accumulated some $8 million toward this end. However, because of other recent decisions the board has made, these millions are likely to disappear in a relatively short time. With or without the $8 million, how could the hospital board expect to fund the project?

On page 14 of the appendices, we are told, “Draft earnest money agreement for land owner or Foundation could see if could be a gift.”

What sort of discussions has the board had with “land owner?” What is the expected cost of this project? Do the commissioners believe taxpayers of this district wish to pay for the proposed facility?

The city council is seeking some $6.3 million in loans to cover the expenses of drilling a well and replacing some of our city water delivery system. How is this debt going to be paid? The city clerk-treasurer had this to say: “It was determined in this process that the estimated costs of these projects (loan repayment) would probably result in rate increases. The rate increase would serve as the revenue source for the loan repayment and, for the purpose of applying for the loan, a rate increase would provide the capacity to repay the loan.”

Perhaps the city council could inform the citizens how much of a rate increase will be required. Do the city council members believe the citizens are able and willing to pay for this project?

The city council accepted a $35,000 report that pretends to explain how an industrial park/tourist park, that defies reality, makes for a good expansion project. What is the expected cost of this project?

Ritzville’s citizens have no idea what the costs of these three projects are expected to be. Yet our public officials move a

head as if these added burdens on our dwindling population were of no consequence. Each of these projects will push our fragile community close to extinction.

Barry Boyer, Ritzville