Good morning!
Here’s some of the work done recently by your team at the Malheur Enterprise.
 malheurenterprise.com Budget woes are a proven part of the Treasure Valley Reload Center narrative and Tuesday officials said it still needs $9 million to be complete. 25 Aug 2022 |
 malheurenterprise.com In a special report, the Enterprise examines the increasing prevalence of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid. Lisa Longoria, an Ontario school principal, offers her perspective on the danger for youth… 24 Aug 2022 |
 malheurenterprise.com The area’s only nursing home can count on $150,000 from Malheur County to help it cover rising costs because of Covid. 24 Aug 2022 |
 malheurenterprise.com With the start of school just a day away, youngsters spent time at Cairo Elementary School meeting teachers, finding classrooms and get ready for the year. 23 Aug 2022 |
 malheurenterprise.com Payette man is wounded Saturday after he entered a local home and demanded homeowner make him a sandwich. 22 Aug 2022 |
Public records and the county – an update
The question seemed important: How much public money is going to be needed to finish the Treasure Valley Reload Center?
Last week, the Enterprise published an editorial with that question. We made the case that with $26 million about to be spent, there was no choice but to push. You can review that editorial here.
At the same time, the Enterprise requested public records about costs and budgets. As we explained in that request: “The public most recently was led to believe that now the original sized building bid at $6.955 million can now be built for $3,150,000. Project officials have provided no actual accounting or the basis for these numbers. The shifting numbers deserve proper and full explanation to the community, to taxpayers and to legislators.”
You can read the request delivered Aug. 17 here:
PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST – Project cost information
Budget documents are basic records of government. Most public agencies provide that information readily.
Not the Malheur County Development Corp., which is in charge of the project.
Grant Kitamura, president of Malheur County Development Corp. for the past five years, responded right away. “I do not possess the documents that you have requested other than minutes from meetings when Brad reported these estimates,” he said in an email.
The company itself hasn’t responded.
Greg Smith, project manager, hasn’t responded.
Brad Baird, president of Anderson Perry & Associates and keeper of the budget, hasn’t provided the documents either.
But the request and editorial seem to have triggered some fresh math. On Tuesday, as reported elsewhere, the development corporation board finally heard numbers about what it will cost to finish this troubled project.
The Enterprise will continue to press for actual documents. We know the community is vitally interested in this topic, and our team is working hard to get at the facts. We will keep you updated.
–Les Zaitz, publisher
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Have a tip? Let us know….
We get some of our best stories and photos after tips from readers. If you have an idea on something we can report on or just have questions about something happening in the community, send an email to Editor Les Zaitz at [email protected].