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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 5, 2015)
OPINION 6A T HE D AILY A STORIAN Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager SAMANTHA MCLAREN, Circulation Manager Brownsmead pulls it off ‘W Corps of Engineers used to be responsive; now not so much e’re all in this together” was the bedrock American assumption. That has changed across a wide range of activities. One of those became apparent in Brownsmead on Monday when a tide gate failed. In prior decades, the Army Corps of Engineers would have answered a call to play a major role in dealing with the disaster. This time Brownsmead was largely on its own. Thanks to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Brownsmead residents, such as Ralph Peitsch and others, emergency repairs saved the day. But Brownsmead resident and Clatsop County Commissioner Dirk Rohne’s attempts to rouse the Corps of Engineers drew little response. Rohne said that it was a OLWWOHOLNHFDOOLQJD¿UHGHSDUWPHQW only to be asked how many more houses might burn. Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast led to a change of attitude in Congress and the Corps. In essence, the Corps has backed out of its responsibility. In Rohne’s words, “The Corps isn’t what it used to be.” Meanwhile, we all pay for the Corps of Engineers. All diking districts are not equivalent. The Brownsmead District is active. But others in Clatsop County and elsewhere in the region and nation are not. While Brownsmead is high-value agricultural land, elsewhere on the lower Columbia River former tidal marshes were diked with a view to farming and settlement that have failed to jell in the passing decades. Since the 1990s, the Corps has actively sought opportunities to restore tidal interchange on some of the 70 percent of tidal wetlands lost on the Columbia since 1870. These marshes are not viewed as critically important as habitat for young salmon and other species. The Cowlitz Tribe is currently engaged in a dike-related marsh restoration elsewhere in Clatsop County. Simply letting nature take its course isn’t a satisfactory answer in these situations. For example, the Corps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wahkiakum County, Wash., engaged in a long and H[SHQVLYH PRGL¿FDWLRQ SURMHFW when a 1920s-vintage dike failed in 2012 near Cathlamet in the Julie Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian white-tailed deer. It remains important to defer to community values when it comes to tidal restoration. There needs to be a systematic effort to plan for abandoning those that lack local support, while identifying long-term maintenance options for dikes that communities like Brownsmead deem important. Rising sea levels this century will make these discussions and decisions a big part of local rural planning as this century advances. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 GUEST COLUMN State auditor comparison is complex By GARY BLACKMER work, and we exam- Since the 2008-2009 The Oregon Secretary of State’s ine the audits and work ¿VFDO \HDU ZH¶YH UH- 2I¿FHDJUHHVZLWKWKH0DUFKHG- papers they prepare to turned an average of itorial calling for more auditing make sure the CPAs are $23.43 for every $1 capacity (“Oregon needs more au- doing a good job. spent. And yes, part of diting capacity,” The Daily Astori- We do that with just our job is to help agen- an). In fact, we are seeking more two auditors. Better? cies avoid mistakes, but auditors in this legislative session, Maybe. But in no way those audits don’t make and they would increase our ability GRHVWKHGLVSDULW\UHÀHFW headlines. Our website to audit additional state programs, any lack of commitment has performance audits including its computer systems. by the State of Oregon Gary Blackmer that identify problems The editorial’s call for an inde- to aggressive auditing. — and recommend pendently elected auditor, howev- Let’s start with our attention to solutions — to improve our ed- er, overlooks the language fraud, waste and abuse. ucation system, child care over- in Article VI Section 2 of We have a hotline (800- sight, transportation turnover, the Oregon Constitution, We are 336-8218) that is avail- temporary assistance for needy which declares that the always able 24/7 for anyone to families, and much, much more. elected secretary of state report concerns. We re- Our information technology is “auditor of public ac- on the spond to about 185 ho- DXGLWVKDYHLGHQWL¿HGPLOOLRQVRI counts.” In other words, tline calls a year. And, dollars in errors in human ser- Oregon already has an lookout we are always on the vices, employment, and other sys- independently elected au- for fraud. Our tems. We also examine the secu- for fraud. lookout ditor. recent work produced ev- rity of those systems and produce Comparing Oregon’s idence of welfare fraud in FRQ¿GHQWLDOUHSRUWV 68 state auditors to Washington’s Klamath County. We assisted fed- And yes, we’d like to have 355 is a bit complicated. About eral, state, and local investigators more auditors. In the 1993-95 250 of Washington’s auditors and prosecutors to get three store budget, we had 90 auditors. The VSHQG WKHLU WLPH DXGLWLQJ WKH ¿- owners sentenced to 90-month 2013-15 budget allows us only nancial statements of local govern- stays in prison, and criminal 68. ments. Those 250 auditors are also charges against 60 others. We are asking for three more. paid for by local governments. In Finally, let’s look at perfor- Thank you for your support. Oregon, we require our local gov- mance auditing. Our 27 perfor- Gary Blackmer is the director HUQPHQWVWRKLUHDFHUWL¿HGSXEOLF mance auditors more than pay for of the Oregon Secretary of State’s DFFRXQWDQW &3$ ¿UP WR GR WKH WKHPVHOYHV LQ LGHQWL¿HG VDYLQJV Audits Division. GUEST COLUMN Straight talk about the Port of St. Helens The Port was clear in its ability to pay. It was again application that one of the asked during testimony by he people of Oregon expect users could be a company Mater at the OTC meeting that those sitting on state- that ships coal, and one of in August. Again the answer appointed commissions will be the users could create an was yes. Now here we are in March, and the answer fair, thorough and knowledgeable. operational project that in- is still yes. The Port of St. Unfortunately, that is not always volved coal. Remember, Helens has assured ODOT ConnectOregon is about in- the case. and the OTC in writing that frastructure, not operation- Several weeks ago, a guest opin- al projects. The difference the Port has the matching ion by former Oregon Transportation between infrastructure and funds for this important in- Patrick Trapp Commission (OTC) Chairwoman operational projects may frastructure improvement Catherine Mater contained misinfor- be confusing to some, however those to Berth Two at Port Westward. In response to this and other alle- mation and leveled serious allegations charged with evaluating and approv- gations raised by Mater, ODOT con- regarding the Port of St. Helens’ ap- ing applications should understand it. plications for ConnectOregon grants ,QKHU¿UVWRSHG0DWHUFRPPHQW- ¿UPHGWKDWWKH3RUWRI6W+HOHQVKDG to help fund dock improvements at ed that the issue was about coal, and provided the necessary information the Port Westward industrial park near then she proclaimed it wasn’t about regarding match funding: “You pro- Clatskanie (“The real story behind the coal. Clearly, it is about a bias against vided everything requested to staff’s St. Helens coal denial,” The Daily As- coal. Why else would Mater ask me satisfaction. Hence, your project is be- torian, Feb. 5). about adding lease provisions focused ing forwarded to the OTC for funding Mater’s allegations are being made on coal in July: “…would not the Port consideration.” 0DWHU¶V DOOHJDWLRQ WKDW 3DFL¿F in spite of hundreds of follow precedent it experts within multiple established with the Transloading/Ambre never agreed to state agencies review- ‘Under the recent acquisition and meet the match is just plain wrong. Al- ing and evaluating the guidelines of rezoning of the second though the applicant is the Port, an out- applications. All found large tract (to exclude side third party was hired to help draft the applications to be ConnectOregon, the storage, loading, the application, and the Port worked in compliance, and or unloading of coal) ZLWK 3DFL¿F 7UDQVORDGLQJ WR UHYLHZ subsequently scored the project is in a lease provision the application ensuring that every- them highly against the with Ambre Energy?”, thing referencing their involvement construction originally established and then in August was accurate. Another question was if the Port criteria. at the OTC hearing ready.’ The truth is that ask: “If we (the OTC) was ready to proceed with the project — Patrick Trapp have authority to make if the grant funds were obtained. That the Port of St. Helens executive director of the Port of boils down to permits and leases. The did not provide any St. Helens this change (regard- false information to ing match funding) in ¿UVW LV D UHJXODWRU\ LVVXH WKH VHFRQG the OTC or the Or- WHUPVRIZKR¿QDQFHV is an agency administrative action. egon Department of Transportation the project, would the Port also agree That was already addressed with DSL, (ODOT) regarding whether: 1)match- WKDW QR ¿QDQFLQJ RI WKH SURMHFW FDQ keeping in mind the project is to reno- vate, repair, and modernize infrastruc- ing funds are available or 2) the project come from a coal company?” is construction ready. The matching That’s in comparison to one of the ture at Port Westward, versus the op- he amazing thing isn’t that It is welcome news that the IXQGV ZHUH ¿UVW FRPPLWWHG IURP 3D- other OTC commissioners, who called HUDWLRQDOSURMHFW3DFL¿F7UDQVORDGLQJ Astoria and surrounding Coast Guard is considering home FL¿F7UDQVORDGLQJDQGWKHQODWHUZHUH it the way he saw it. He doesn’t like Ambre is pursuing in Boardman. The Port has a wharfage registra- assurance from the Port. The fossil fuels and he’s going to vote communities are so supportive porting two of its fast response provided Department of State Lands (DSL) has against the Port’s application because tion for the dock, and as such can con- of the U.S. Coast Guard, but cutters in Astoria, a decision that stated in writing (several times) that it the dock improvements could be used duct cargo operations. According to that the Coast Guard does not could double the number of USCG does not require a permit, a lease, or for that purpose. I still disagree with DSL, the agency in charge of issuing always meet with enthusiastic personnel in the Columbia River any action for the dock project to begin his reason, but he was consistent, not permits and leases for state submerged construction. RQD¿VKLQJH[SHGLWLRQWR¿QGVRPH- land for dock facilities: “No authori- acclaim wherever it is located. It sector. This would be hugely According to ConnectOregon Fre- thing wrong with the application zation, permit or other agreement is is easily among the most useful positive for the area’s economy, quently asked Questions and Manual where no errors existed. needed to renovate the dock for gen- HUDOZKDU¿QJ´ (Oct. 7, 2013): “ConnectOregon is a During the OTC deliberations last DQG HI¿FLHQW RI IHGHUDO DJHQFLHV not only in terms of paychecks DSL has determined that “if and lottery bond-based initiative to invest August there was a question regarding greatly enhancing the viability of and stable employment, but also in air, rail, marine, transit, bicycle and the Port assuming the matching funds ZKHQ´ WKH 3DFL¿F 7UDQVORDGLQJ$P- maritime businesses while directly in the sense that it would support pedestrian infrastructure to ensure Or- LI3DFL¿F7UDQVORDGLQJ$PEUH(QHUJ\ bre operational project comes to fru- contributing to local economies DGGLWLRQDOYHVVHOWUDI¿FDQGVDIHW\ egon’s transportation system is strong, should fail to come to fruition. The ition, then that would be the time to via payrolls and purchasing. The Columbia is a world-class GLYHUVHDQGHI¿FLHQW´7KHNH\ZRUG ConnectOregon criteria focuses on, pursue a lease to conduct transloading “infrastructure.” “How much of the cost of a proposed activities. There is no requirement to Yet for years we have heard river, the point of entry for a region here In being late 2013, the Port submitted transportation project can be borne by pursue or obtain a “proprietary agree- that the Lower Columbia River of vast strategic importance in terms two projects focused on marine infra- the applicant and from any source oth- ment” prior to starting, or completing, exhibits a singular affection for of high technology, agricultural structure investments on the Beaver er than the Multimodal Transportation construction work associated with the men and women of the Coast production and other key assets. Dock at Port Westward. One project is Fund.” The applicant is the Port. Any general cargo operations — the kind for Berth One and the other for Berth source other than Multimodal Trans- our other tenants count on and the kind Guard, well above and beyond From the vicinity of Astoria, these Two. The proposed improvements to portation Fund includes loans, bonds, of cargo operations our prospective the reception they receive in other cutters would have direct access to both berths would strengthen, diversi- 3DFL¿F7UDQVORDGLQJDQGRUDQ\RWKHU tenant, Northwest Innovation Works, I\DQGLPSURYHHI¿FLHQF\DWWKH%HD- tenant or prospective tenant the Port is also counting on. coastal communities. Perhaps this DOORIWKH1RUWK3DFL¿F In other words, under the guide- is because we have ample reason A strong case can be made ver Dock, currently and in the future. may end up working with. The actual application states that, Does the Port have the match? This lines of ConnectOregon, the project to know just how dangerous our WKDW &ODWVRS DQG 3DFL¿F FRXQWLHV “The dock is owned by the Port and was asked in July, couched under the is construction ready. Any accusa- river and ocean can be, and what can far more easily accommodate will continue to be operated as a com- TXHVWLRQ,I3DFL¿F7UDQVORDGLQJJRHV tion that the Port’s project is stymied a major role the Coast Guard these cutters and their personnel PRQXVHU SRUW IDFLOLW\ 3DFL¿F 7UDQV- away, do we have the ability to meet in readiness because of a permit or a LLC, and Ambre Energy, has RXU¿QDQFLDOUHVSRQVLELOLWLHV"7KHDQ- lease issue is just wishful thinking plays in helping our neighbors than would be possible in loading entered into a terminal services option swer was, and is, yes. The full response on the part of opponents of dock im- return safely from the sea. There Newport, the other homeport under with the Port for nonexclusive use of to the question of match was, “Both of provements and job creation at Port are plenty of local people who consideration. It is well worth the dock. Portland General Electric, a these projects represent critical public Westward. The matching funds have always grew up with fathers thanks to making this case whenever and current tenant, has rights to the dock. infrastructure for the Port and the re- &ROXPELD3DFL¿F%LR5H¿QHU\DQH[- gion, if need be the Port would capital- been assured, as required by the Con- the lifesavers of the Air Station with whomever we can. Newport isting tenant, also uses the dock to ship ize on its resources, other prospective nectOregon process. There was never and Cape Disappointment. The may have been better suited for liquid bulk commodities by barge; the dock users, and our Bonding Authority fraud. All guidelines were followed. To suggest otherwise is simply an Steadfast, the Aids to Navigation WKH12$$3DFL¿F5HVHDUFK)OHHW improved dock will continue to serve to ensure project completion.” outrageous claim by a person recently this purpose. This project will enable The Port was asked by Mater to crew and the National Motor Life but Astoria is clearly the superior additional uses and users of the dock put that in writing. In August 2014, the ¿UHGDVWKHFKDLUZRPDQRIWKH27& Boat School all maintain deep choice for the Coast Guard. Mater, and all those who continue that require mooring deep-draft ves- Port of St Helens Commission sent a local ties and generate many fans. We will welcome the cutters. sels.” OHWWHUWRWKH27&UHDI¿UPLQJWKH3RUW¶V to distort the facts, should apologize. This is a great opportunity T New Coast Guard cutters are welcome and appreciated T By PATRICK TRAPP