GAZA SHELLING CONTINUES
TRAVELING WELL
School attacked, 15 killed, A7
Iwakuma wins ninth in a row on the road, B1
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014
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Proposal presents new what-ifs for Jordan Cove financial windfall Bulk of LNG property taxes would flow to urban renewal district ■
BY CHELSEA DAVIS The World
Editor’s note: Thursday, we’ll look at the history of the Bay Area Enterprise Zone and where Jordan Cove’s property tax dollars would go if the enterprise zone ceased to exist. COOS BAY — If the Jordan Cove Energy Project backs out of the Community Enhancement Plan, its property tax dollars could flow in a few different directions.
On Monday, the Community Enhancement Plan work group discussed a draft agreement outlining when Jordan Cove would pay its annual community service fee, how much that fee would be and who would get the check. One clause changed substantially: The company has an out after the plan turns 7 years old. At that point, Jordan Cove could choose to not renew its long-term rural enterprise zone tax exemption, halting all future community service fee payments and essentially tossing out the CEP. “We didn’t participate in any conversations regarding that paragraph,” said Jordan Cove public affairs director Michael Hinrichs.
“In fact, we don’t have a role in the actual crafting process at all and haven’t seen any iterations of it. I’m not sure how it came about, but we’re leaving it to the working group and the enterprise zone entities to figure everything out.” Chris Claflin, Business Oregon’s business development officer for Coos, Curry and Douglas counties, said Jordan Cove has the right not to take the incentive. “The sponsors want you to use the incentive longer than maybe you want to,” he said. “It’s not something that’s anticipated in statute or rule.” Seven years into the plan, the taxing entities and proposed South Coast Community Foundation and
Waterfront Development Partnership would already have seven rounds of community service fee revenues and, if things go as planned, thriving endowments. But without this exemption, Jordan Cove would resume paying property taxes as usual and since it would sit in the North Bay Urban Renewal District, 99 percent of property tax dollars would go into its urban renewal agency — if it still exists. Voters put the district in place in 1985 as a way to cure blight, directing some property tax revenues to improvements — mostly infrastructure — within the district. SEE WINDFALL | A8
Channel clearing
By Lou Sennick, The World
A bucket dredge from J.E. McAmis picks up another load of silt from the Charleston Channel near Point Adams on Tuesday.The firm from Chico, Calif., also has an office in Astoria and has the contract to clear silt from the channel through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Scammers net more victims in phone fraud Caller claims to be Coos County law enforcement official ■
THE WORLD COQUILLE — A telephone scam from callers claiming to work for South Coast law enforcement has netted more than a dozen victims in a little more than a week. According to the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, a suspicious caller claiming to be an employee of the Coos County Sheriff’s Office and Coos County Circuit Court has been telling residents they missed jury duty, and that they must pay up or face jail time. Deputies say the caller, who has a Southern accent, is telling people they missed jury duty and that Coos County Circuit Court Judge Richard Barron has issued a warrant for their arrest. The caller is, of course, not affiliated with those agencies. The victims have been instructed to go to Walgreens or Fred Meyer to purchase a gift card, and then read the card’s number back to the caller. Sheriff’s dispatchers first began taking reports of the suspicious calls Thursday afternoon. The calls first came from a number with a 541-205 prefix, but have since come from 541591 and 541-217 numbers as well. According to information released Monday by the Sheriff’s Office, authorities are aware of one victim who lost money in the scam, though at least 14-16 others have received calls. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating and says it’s also forwarded the information to the Department of Justice. Anyone with information about the origins of the calls should call the Coos County Sheriff’s Office at 541-3967800.
Commission will US economy grew at strong consider home 4 percent rate in spring Annual growth rate rule charter pegged at 3 percent ■
Police reports . . . . A2 What’s Up. . . . . . . . A3 South Coast. . . . . . A3 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . A4
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BY MARTIN CRUTSINGER The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — After a dismal winter, the U.S. economy sprang back to life in the AprilJune quarter, growing at a fast 4 percent annual rate on the strength of higher consumer and business spending. The rebound reported Wednesday by the Commerce Department followed a sharp 2.1 percent annualized drop in economic activity in the January-March quarter. That figure was revised up from a previous estimate of a 2.9 percent drop. But it was still the biggest contraction since early 2009 in the depths of the Great Recession. Last quarter’s bounce-back was broad-based, with consumers, businesses, the housing industry and state and local governments all combining to fuel growth. The robust expansion will reinforce analysts’ view that the economy’s momentum is extending into the second half of the year, when they
Construction workers build a commercial complex July 17 in Springfield, Ill. The government today issued its first of three estimates of how fast the U.S. economy grew in the April-June quarter. forecast an annual growth rate of around 3 percent. The government on Wednesday also updated its estimates of growth leading into this year. They show the economy expanded in the second half of 2013 at the fastest pace in a decade and more than previously estimated. The revised data also show that the economy grew faster in 2013 than previously
Southern Oregon fires Patricia Miller, Grants Pass
Obituaries | A5
Wildfire nearly contained after threatening seven homes in Josephine County. Page A5
FORECAST
INSIDE
COQUILLE — Coos County commissioners will consider a home rule charter in an upcoming work session. Commissioner Melissa Cribbins said at the commissioners’ Tuesday meeting that she would like to form a committee to review the home rule charter process. Fairview residents Ronnie Herne and Jaye Bell are at the forefront of “Voice of the Voters,” Coos County Home Rule Charter 2014, an effort to reorganize county government and “create a local government that is responsive to, responsible to, and representative of the people of Coos County by promoting transparency and active voter participation,” according to the proposed charter. They have asked the county commissioners at numerous meetings to put their charter on the fall ballot. The commission-
ers have denied their requests every time. “It’s never a bad idea to relook at the county’s system of governance,” Cribbins said. “I don’t agree with some of the stuff in your charter, but I don’t think a charter is a bad idea.” Cribbins clarified that while she thinks a charter is worth considering, she has no interest in Herne and Bell’s proposal. Commissioner John Sweet said it would be a good idea to review charters in an upcoming work session. Herne and Bell’s home rule charter effort failed in Coos County in the 2012 election. Most recently, Curry County’s home rule charter, Measure 876, didn’t make it through the May primary. Reporter Chelsea Davis can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 239, or by email at chelsea.davis@theworldlink.co m. Follow her on Twitter: @ChelseaLeeDavis.
STATE
The World
DEATHS
BY CHELSEA DAVIS
estimated, though more slowly in 2011 and 2012 than earlier thought. The second quarter’s 4 percent growth in the gross domestic product — the economy’s total output of goods and services — was the best showing since a 4.5 percent increase in July-September quarter of 2013.
Mostly sunny 67/54 Weather | A8
SEE ECONOMY | A8