VALE – The box of folders delivered to the Malheur County Court last month seemed to be just a bland set of documents transferred from the economic development department as its director, Greg Smith, closed up shop.The folders, crafted by the team managed by Smith, were designed to market Malheur[Read More…]
Special Reports
Sellers of land to county now seek payment for not growing crops
The owners of Fort Boise Produce asked the county to pay them for not growing beans and corn on land they sold earlier to Malheur County, public records show. County officials in April were presented with a bill for $17,875, representing what the owners, Farmer family, expected to earn in[Read More…]
Nyssa reload center may shrink, cut by one-third to save money
The Treasure Valley Reload Center could end up being considerably smaller than envisioned as project leaders struggle to overcome money shortages and escalating costs. And even building a smaller warehouse for shipping onions depends on getting an emergency allocation of $3 million from legislators in September. The latest shift in[Read More…]
Your guide to the Treasure Valley Reload Center – get the history, purpose and status
What is it? The Treasure Valley Reload Center will be a shipping center where Treasure Valley farm products can be unloaded from trucks and loaded onto rail cars. A warehouse and rail spurs are the centerpiece. To start, only onions would move through the center. The center is on former[Read More…]
Governor pushes extra $3 million for Nyssa rail center to cover cost overruns
Gov. Kate Brown is riding to the rescue of the Treasure Valley Reload Center, supporting $3 million in new state funding, with more to come if needed. The taxpayer bailout is crucial to finish the Nyssa rail shipping center, which is far over budget and behind schedule. Such funding would[Read More…]
DA orders county to release key budget document for rail reload center
VALE – Malheur County has been ordered to release public records regarding the construction budget for the Treasure Valley Reload Center.Dave Goldthorpe, Malheur County district attorney, issued the order June 27 to the Malheur County Economic Development Department and its director, Greg Smith.He granted the petition of the Malheur Enterprise,[Read More…]
Rail board wants to keep Smith, double his compensation for the next year
Greg Smith’s pay would more than double for managing the Nyssa reload project while dropping his duties as Malheur County economic development director under a plan presented to county officials last week. Smith is currently paid $6,000 a month by Malheur County to lead the Treasure Valley Reload Center. That[Read More…]
UPDATE: Greg Smith resigns from top county economic development position
Greg Smith, Malheur County economic development director, discusses the Treasure Valley Reload Center at a Nyssa meeting on May 17. Beside him is his aide, Ryan Bailey. (The Enterprise/PAT CALDWELL) UPDATE Wednesday, June 29: Malheur County Commissioner Ron Jacobs said Wednesday that Greg Smith was leaving only his economic development[Read More…]
County judge says $26 million should be enough for Nyssa rail center
Railroad ties are stocked outside of Nyssa on Tuesday, April 12, to be used on miles of rail track planned for the Treasure Valley Reload Center. One $2.7 million track remains optional, officials say. (The Enterprise/LES ZAITZ) VALE – Malheur County’s top official said $26 million should be enough to[Read More…]
Malheur County blocks Enterprise from news conference on rail center
Dan Joyce, Malheur County judge, wrongly claimed in an interview on June 16 that the Malheur Enterprise took money from George Soros, a figure reviled by conservative forces. (ISAAC WASSERMAN/The Enterprise) VALE – Leaders of the Treasure Valley Reload Center last week conducted a news conference with new information about[Read More…]