Clark County puts a hold on funding to economic development council

In a letter delivered Jan. 22, Clark County Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke notified members of the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) that funding for the CREDC from the county would be halted immediately due to the organization’s “advocacy” for the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project, according to a news release from the CREDC.

The two commissioners also changed funding to the Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council from an annual to quarterly basis.

Steve Stuart, the third county commissioner did not sign off to or agree to either change. Stuart did not return phone calls from The Reflector prior to deadline.

According to the CREDC news release, in December, the county commissioners voted to renew its contract to provide CREDC with $100,000 annually to promote and implement its economic development plan throughout the county. This was prior to Madore taking office.

Madore and Mielke made the decision to send the letter during the commissioners’ weekly board time Jan. 16. Stuart was not present at the Jan. 16 gathering as he was in Olympia. The letter from Madore and Mielke stated: “The Clark County Board of Commissioners met on this date and, by majority vote, approved a halt to any payments to CREDC effective immediately. Therefore, CREDC will herewith not act on behalf of the unincorporated areas of the county or incur any further costs associated with county unincorporated area economic development.”

Both Madore and Mielke said they believe their actions were justified as they are elected officials who have a responsibility to listen to and represent the people. They both said the failure of Proposition 1, which would’ve created some funding for light rail, reinforced the idea that they needed to stand up for what the people said they wanted.

The proposition failed with 56.51 percent of voters rejecting it.

“The CREDC said they never took a position on light rail and that is an outright lie,” Madore said.

Madore cited a link on his public Facebook page to a Jan. 25, 2012, Oregonian article that names the CREDC as one of three organizations that drafted a letter to two state legislators, urging them to include funding for the CRC project in the governor’s proposed $3.6 billion transportation package.

“I would consider it a betrayal of voter trust to take their tax dollars and lobby to do exactly what the voters said not to do,” Madore said.

Mielke said he and Madore plan to speak with all organizations that the county pays dues to about taking a neutral position on the CRC project.

“We are here to represent the majority of the people,” Mielke said. “Based on that, we are contacting all of those organizations that we (the county) pay money to and if they don’t have a neutral stance, we are not going to pay our dues. For us to continue to pay dues to organizations who have taken a stance for or against (light rail), we can’t rightfully use taxpayer money to fund a position opposite of what the majority of the people have designated they want.”

Mielke pointed out that the county pays the CREDC $100,000 per year and said that is “lots of money that supports a position that the majority of taxpayers are saying ‘no’ to.”

“We are firm in our position and we are asking them (CREDC) to reconsider their position as we have done as a board of commissioners,” Mielke said. “We (Madore and I) have respected that Steve Stuart’s position is different than ours.”

Madore has acknowledged that this is probably a breach of the county’s contract with the CREDC. Mielke said they don’t want to break the contract and they have not yet discussed in detail the issues with that.

In the letter delivered by Madore and Mielke, it states that they recognize the positive value that the CREDC can bring to economic development in Clark County through its recruitment and retention programs. However, the letter states that focus on jobs has been “diluted” by the CREDC Board voting to “advocate” for the CRC project, which includes light rail.

The letter does state that Madore and Mielke don’t want this “halt” in funding to be permanent.

“It is our genuine hope that this halt in funding will not continue indefinitely, but to be plain, that outcome is wholly in the hands of the CREDC Board,” the letter states. “We hope and trust that the CREDC Board will act appropriately and end its advocacy for CRC and light rail.”

“This is a very disappointing action on the part of the commissioners,” said Bill Dudley, CREDC Board chair, according to the CREDC news release. “CREDC is one of the few venues available for the private sector to partner with the public sector regarding a broad variety of important economic development issues. To withdraw support from the enterprise based on a single issue is unfortunate.”

Dudley said the CREDC will take this matter up at its next board meeting, but said that the CREDC’s position was the result of “substantial discussions among all members of the CREDC Board, both public and private.” He said the council recognized the “vital importance” of the bridge to economic commerce, and in particular to the region’s ability to attract and retain businesses. However, he said no position was taken regarding light rail.

Lisa Nisenfeld, CREDC president, said the CREDC will continue to work with the private sector and the cities to promote business growth and to deliver on the “aspirations” of the Clark County Economic Development Plan, according to the CREDC news release.

“Clearly such a reduction in funding will have an impact on our ability to deliver services,” Nisenfeld said. “However, we are confident in our ability to secure alternative resources.”

Although Stuart previously held the role as the representative for Clark County on the CREDC Board, Madore said Stuart decided he did not wish to continue that role and Madore recently signed up to be the county’s representative on the Board.

“The CREDC needs to return to their core mission,” Madore said. “To develop Clark County jobs and not kill Clark County jobs.”