Newport Miner November 27, 2013

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Happy Thanksgiving From The Miner Staff

The Newport Miner

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THE VOICE OF PEND OREILLE COUNT Y SINCE 1901

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

www.pendoreillerivervalley.com

Volume 110, Number 43 | 2 Sections, 24 Pages

75¢

PUD looks at smaller budget, rate increase Fiber system may be self supporting next year BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille Public Utility District commissioners plan to approve a budget smaller than last year’s at the Dec. 3 regular board meeting. They are also proposing a smaller rate increase of 2 percent that would generate about $100,000 for the PUD during 2014. A hearing will be scheduled in the spring of 2014 to discuss the increase and it would not take effect until July 2014. PUD Commissioner Curt Knapp said the

budget is a work in progress and they will keep looking at the numbers and take community input. The fiber-to-the-premise W H AT ’S N E X T: overrun costs will not impact rates and a plan is in place for THE PUD BOARD is set to approve the the fiber system division to budget at the Dec. 3 pay back the over run. regular board meetThe preliminary budget has ing and a hearing will expenditures of more than held in the spring of $86 million, down almost $5 2014 to approve a million from the 2013 budget. The budget is reduced for rate increase. 2014 because not as much will be spent on capital projects, primarily for Box Canyon relicensing requirements and on the CNS fiber

project during the year. A rate increase is scheduled of 2 percent to compensate for general inflation and costs of power from Boundary Dam. PUD Assistant General Manager April Owen said the cost of Boundary power is anticipated to go down in 2014 from last year, which allowed the PUD to reduce the rate increase to 2 percent. The increase in 2013 was 2.5 percent. This is an estimated number and depends on the price of Boundary power. Boundary power is rising because of the cost of its federal license requirements. The PUD overall debt is more than $165.7 million. This is split over the electric, Box Canyon and water systems. Owen said more than $12 million is budgeted to pay on the debt.

The PUD has four separate divisions for budget purposes – CNS fiber, electric, production and water systems – all with budget expenses that make up the more than $86 million budget.

CNS Fiber shows as debt payments The CNS budget is showing more than $1.48 million, down significantly from 2013 when it was more than $8.24 million. Owen said there are significantly less capital projects for CNS in 2014. She also said that some of the costs from 2013 were repaid using grant money but it had to show in the budget as total SEE PUD, 2A

Marijuana rules coming, license application open BY DON GRONNING OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – Washington hopes to have authorized retail marijuana sales in place by June, including two “at-large” locations reserved for Pend Oreille County. So far neither Pend Oreille County or the city of Newport have proposed moratoriums on marijuana businesses, unlike Stevens County, which has put a moratorium on the establishment of growing sites, processing facilities and retail shops. The moratorium

will last until May. County commission chairman Mike Manus says that any action the commission takes regarding marijuana would reflect the will of local voters, who voted against recreational marijuana. Newport councilman Ken Smith says most of Newport is off limits because the law prohibits marijuana being sold within 1,000 feet of places where young people gather. “We’re physically a small city,” Smith said. “We just don’t have a lot of places.”

SEE RULES, 12A

COURTESY PHOTO|CLIFF BAUER

Visitor center future unknown Chamber seeks executive director after membership director resigns BY MICHELLE NEDVED OF THE MINER

NEWPORT – The future of the Newport visitors center is still unknown, following a board meeting Friday of the Greater Newport

Area Chamber of Commerce that was closed to the public. Chamber president Mark Zorica said chamber officials will be meeting soon with a couple of other organizations that may be interested in staffing the visitor center, located at Centennial Plaza in downtown Newport. SEE VISITOR, 11A

Hometown Christmas Sales Newport & Old Oldtown

Wreck claims one James C. Morton, 51, of Benton City was killed Friday, Nov. 22, following a wreck at about 7:18 a.m. on Highway 20, about 13 miles north of Cusick. Morton was driving a 1978 Kenworth semi-truck south when he crossed the centerline. The truck tipped over and struck a wooden railroad abutment. Then a 2013 Kenworth truck driven by Michael Okelley, 45, of Lewiston, Idaho, struck Morton’s truck. Okelley was not injured. The cause of the wreck is under investigation.

Wish list for Teck mine site done: What’s next? BY DESIREÉ HOOD OF THE MINER

METALINE FALLS – The Pend Oreille Economic Development Council and the Selkirk Planners task force have identified two options with the help of a consultant for the Teck Cominco mine site near Metaline Falls, should the mine cease operations in the next few years. An adventure sports camp and specialty product manufacturing were two identified options

for the Brownfield site, neither generating the number of jobs or revenue for the county that would be lost if the mine closes. The report was released July 19. Leading the Selkirk Planners task force is Metaline Falls Mayor Tara Leininger as chairwoman. The Selkirk Planners and the EDC will schedule a time to meet to discuss the process moving forward. “It was really honest about our opportunities for the future,” Leininger said of the study. “We

|| The Miner closed for Thanksgiving NEWPORT – The Miner Newspaper office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. The Miner will reopen Friday, Nov. 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 29 (9am-8pm) Sat. Nov. 30 (9am-6pm) Sat 1-4pm: Pictures with Santa at The Hospitality House FREE Carriage Rides sponsored by Mountain West Bank 1 pm - Dusk Free Hot Dogs & Cocoa

Enjoy our festive, small town atmosphere & save $ on gas!

City of Newport looks at 2014 budget NEWPORT – The city of Newport is holding a public hearing Monday, Dec. 2, at the regular city council meeting, to discuss its budget for 2014. Included in the discussion will be six additional holidays off for the city employees to compensate for cost of living adjustments instead of a cost of living raise. The total budget shows more than $5 million, down more than $403,000 from 2013.

Christmas bird count set for Sunday, Dec. 15 NEWPORT – The Pend Oreille Christmas Bird Count is set for Sunday, Dec. 15.

are not starting from square one. You need to know what your limitations are.” Leininger said the committee is in a holding pattern pending the outcome of Teck’s future plans for the mine. The EDC received a grant for $200,000 from the Integrated Planning Program of the Washington State Department of Ecology Toxics Cleanup Program to develop the Pend Oreille Mine Brownfield Redevelopment Plan for the mine property. The EDC

B R I E F LY

hired Maul, Foster and Alongi to determine the best reuse options for the mine site, should Teck cease operations on the mine. No further money is being spent on the planning process and the grant has been completed. No matching funds were required for this grant. The EDC was paid $18,000 for its administrative work on this study. “It was a perfect fit for us,” EDC Director Jamie Wyrobek said. SEE TECK, 12A

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People are needed to drive around in their vehicles or watch their feeders at home or in their neighborhood. Novices are welcome; organizers make sure beginners are paired up with experienced bird watchers. The group will meet at Audrey’s Restaurant on Highway 2, just west of Newport, at 6:30 a.m., to grab some food or coffee, and then hit the road at 7 a.m. They will rendezvous at dark, between 4-4:30 p.m., again at Audrey’s to count up birds. To volunteer or ask questions, call John Stuart at 509-447-2644.

‘Keep the Cheer’ and visit Santa in Newport NEWPORT – “Keep the Cheer Here” at Newport’s Hometown Christmas Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29-30, sponsored by the Greater Newport Area Chamber of Commerce. Participating stores will be open 9 a.m. to 8

SPORTS 6B - RECORD 7B - POLICE 7B - OPINION 4A - CLASSIFIEDS 8B-12B - PUBLIC NOTICES 9B-12B - DOWN RIVER 11A - LIFE 10A - OBITUARIES 7B

p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Santa Claus will be at the Hospitality House at 216 S. Washington from 1-4 p.m. Get your picture taken and enjoy hot chocolate and hot dogs.

YES still needs gifts for youth NEWPORT – Youth Emergency Services is in need of people to purchase gifts for 74 area youth this Christmas season. YES is organizing its annual Christmas gift program, where people adopt youth and buy Christmas gifts. Youth are filling out Christmas wish lists, with the lists divided into “needs” and “wants.” Volunteer Sue Scobby said YES helps both youth enrolled in YES and their siblings receive gifts. She said many YES kids don’t want gifts if they know their siblings won’t get anything. Anyone who would like to help out can stop by YES at 316 Second St., in Newport, or call 509-447-1125.


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Newport Miner November 27, 2013 by The Newport Miner - Issuu