Declining population could lead to failure of hospital, city

Should the East Adams Rural Hospital building collapse upon itself, it is not likely to be replaced. Where would the funds be found to build a new facility?

Some of the candidates for EARH board of commissioners promised to do their best to see the current building be kept in service.

Not all, however, and it seems that one or more commissioners or candidates wish to see the current facility replaced.

If Ritzville’s decline is not reversed soon, our hospital is even more at risk.

Ritzville is losing population and city policies seem likely to exacerbate the problem. City utilities are too high and we can expect the city council to ask for substantially higher monthly city utilities, which will likely increase the attempt of folks to leave town.

Homes are difficult to sell and will become more difficult as the cost of living in Ritzville climbs.

Our supply of abandoned homes is likely to increase as people find that they cannot sell their homes or sell them for what they owe on their mortgages.

The RPDA deserves kudos for hosting a public discussion of the Light Industrial/Tourist Park.

The public discussion results, guided by bright and polite WSU interior design students, stressed the need for private sector jobs.

Only private sector jobs contribute a positive gain to our tax base.

Government employees draw more dollars in wages from the tax pool than they return to the tax pool from taxes paid on their wages.

Forms of crony capitalism and city/county Socialism are not part of the solution but are instead destructive.

Thus, the Economic Screening Analysis of a Light Industrial/Tourist Park is not a solution to saving Ritzville.

If Ritzville’s population decline is not turned around, there will be no Ritzville and no East Adams Rural Hospital located in Ritzville.

The need to insure the supply of water is critical to saving the city. The water and sewer infrastructure is going to be an expensive fix; but without it we cannot draw the private sector employers that are essential to the survival of our town and hospital.

Barry Boyer, Ritzville