Dick

The East Oregonian editorial “CDA vote doesn’t make sense” (April 9) only makes sense when you factor in the Port of Morrow/Columbia River Economic Zone/Morrow County Board of Commissioners/Amazon behind closed doors agenda.

This hidden agenda is a main reason for the forthcoming Morrow County commissioner recall. Commissioner Jeff Wenholz voted to give away 2,500 acres (1,900 industrial) to the Port of Morrow. Why? Did Commissioners Roy Drago and David Sykes agree?

There are no minutes or public agenda item on the subject. The industrial land the commissioners gave away is virtually priceless for technological innovation, growth and prosperity. The wealth of potential cutting-edge jobs and unlimited tax base could power Morrow and Umatilla counties into the next decade.

With a rail line on the property, proximity to the Port of Morrow, and one of the best highway exchanges (Interstate 84, Interstate 82) in America, this industrial land could well be worth close to a million dollars an acre. Why the Port of Morrow?

The port has no economic director, is mired in a class action lawsuit plus massive loan restrictions remediating the nitrate contamination, all of which will handcuff future development.

Wenholz is under investigation by the state ethics commission for conflict of interest regarding SunStone Solar wind farm in Morrow County. Wenholz is vice chair of Umatilla Electric Cooperative, which owns the electric contracts-term interests of the UEC.

Wenholz and the commissioners’ land giveaway was required by and/or favors Amazon, Umatilla Electric, Port of Morrow, city of Boardman, Boardman Rural Fire District and Columbia River Economic Zone, not the citizens of Morrow and Umatilla counties. This land giveaway will devastate the future of both counties economically as well undermine liberty and justice in favor of backroom corruption.

The vote further makes sense when you factor in the Boardman/Amazon agenda. With the Port of Morrow control of this priceless Columbia Development Authority industrial land, Columbia River Economic Zone/Morrow County Board of Commissioners/Boardman will bring more Amazon complexes and gain control of all Amazon tax abatement funds. That means 85% tax abatement for all new Amazons that will soon consume most of both ports’ economic interest zone.

The majority of the Port of Morrow budget is controlled and provided by Amazon. The Columbia River Economic Zone tax abatement funds are controlled by Morrow County Board of Commissioners (Sykes and Wenholz), the Port of Morrow and to some extent the city of Boardman. Over the life of the 15-year tax abatements, billions of dollars will be controlled by the commissioners, Port of Morrow and city of Boardman.

Since the first Amazon in Morrow County, power usage has soared over 550 times. This is only the beginning. Amazon wants our relatively inexpensive power, our Columbia River water, cheap land and generous tax breaks. Amazon will bully our two counties just like Boardman Rural Fire District is bullying the Irrigon Fire Department, with commissioner and Columbia Development Authority support, out of all future CDA-annexed tax base.

Now does the priceless industrial land giveaway make sense?

Once again, the citizens/taxpayers of Morrow and Umatilla counties get left holding an empty bag, all the while financing this swindle with ever increasing property taxes. Morrow County citizens, have you signed the petition yet? For more information join Morrow County Citizens for Liberty and Justice on Facebook.