Columbia County and the Port of St. Helens have been remiss in their duties to bring in decent industries into Columbia County. Both entities have made grave mistakes regarding the types of industry that would be acceptable for the citizens and taxpayers of the Port District and county. Over the years both entities have been left holding the bag on nonviable dirty industries that are defunct and at times often left the county and the Port responsible for toxic clean ups costing the taxpayers sizeable amounts of tax dollars.

Recently the last boondoggle was the ethanol plant at Port Westward, after the county sank over $38 million with added interest to reach approximately $54 million, plus a couple other sizeable loans that was about $16+million for road development, to bring in an ethanol plant that shut down shortly after start up because of poor water quality that contaminated their finished product. We can't forget the amount of taxpayer dollars that went to the rail line to upgrade their rail system again millions.

What was bad about the water was that many local people expressed their wisdom about the terrible water in that area because of the bog's, their information fell on deaf ears and the port promised that they could and would supply the industry with acceptable water, which could not and did not happen, thus the taxpayers were left with a huge loan that was not getting paid off by the industry that the county and the port depended on to make the loan payments.

What was bad about the water was that many local people expressed their wisdom about the terrible water in that area because of the bog's, their information fell on deaf ears and the port promised that they could and would supply the industry with acceptable water, which could not and did not happen, thus the taxpayers were left with a huge loan that was not getting paid off by the industry that the county and the port depended on to make the loan payments.

That leaves us to the next predicament and often the way the county and the port handles business, welcoming any and all industry to move into the sites to try and save their butts with the public. And like usual with out rhyme or reason the county will accept any business that has been refused in every other part of the country and poise it as the greatest thing since the invention of ice cream in order to justify bad business decisions. And while they are gladly accepting dirty business into the county they are boasting about bringing good jobs into the area, but always failing to reveal the total cost that will ultimately fall onto the backs of the tax payers of Columbia County.
My question is why don't the county commissioners and the port commissioners be proactive and ban together and scout possible clean industry to bring into the county. Maybe the county commissioners could remove them selves off some boards and do some hands on research and contact potential clean industry that pays well.

Instead the county let 498 industrial acres with a deep-water port, access to rail, electricity, gas, and endless water supply go for a crappy rock pit all because the county commissioners would not take advice from a lay person to buy back the old fairgrounds for exactly what the property cost in 1928 $1 million, minus the 13 acres that the chemical plant was sited on. The Port refused to consider the idea as well, instead the county is in debt over $70 million and is having a hard time making their loan payments and the port is not doing so well either. Hell the Port didn't even collect rent payments from their renters letting revenue go for years.
WE could talk about Bergsoe , the Pole yard, USG, Morse Brothers aka Knife River, cedar mills, garbage burners, tire recycling, race tracks, slaughter plants, LNG terminals, Coal terminals, ethanol plants, airports, critical access hospitals, and law suits at the port,. I probably missed a few of the bad business deals and down right not so bright decisions that have cost every one of us one way or the other through our tax payment for the next 30+ years. It is time for change, get involved, and stand strong for your community's future.