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LOCAL NEWS
Some sad, some glad
Sunnyside Port, Monsons back off feedlot-purchase deal indefinitely
SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday 9-14-99)---Voters won't have the chance to say yay or nay to the Sunnyside Port District's buying 150 acres of feedlot from the Arvid Monson family, the Port announced today.
 
Some are disappointed, some are very happy.
 
If all would have gone as planned, voters would approve a $3-million bond issue to buy 150 manure-filled acres from Monson over 20 years. Great mounds of dung, cattle, and dust would have been replaced by professional and retail outlets, parking pavement, and landscaping.
 
The chronic odor from the feedlot would be no more. Sunnyside would have been free to grow westward toward Outlook, and develop businesses near the freeway, increasing Sunnyside's tax base, given annexation.
 
Some were glad to see the deal fizzle. Most parcels up for purchase are valued between $1,500 and $2,400 per acre (county assessor). Voters in the Port district would have paid Monson a cool $20,000 for each of the 150 acres.
 
The Yakima Valley News received a letter from "Bobby", a "taxpayer tired of rising taxes."
 
Said Bobby, "It's nice to know that someone out there in our
little community doesn't want to spend $3.3 million for (150) acres of
...cow shit!"
 
"Maybe we can generate some more general fund money by supporting some guided blue heron combo seagull hunts behind the PD, around the pond.

"I don't know who writes your articles but I sure would like to

contribute or talk to someone who puts out this GREAT
(online newspaper)...Go for it!"
 
An earlier news release from the Port District said:
 
"The Port of Sunnyside regretfully announces that the Port and the Monson family have entered into a mutual termination of the agreement for the purchase of the Monson feed lot.
 
"The purchase agreement was very complex, and had numerous conditions and tasks which had to be completed by Sept. 17, 1999, which is the last day the Port could request the bond issue be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 2, 1999, vote.
 
"It was important that all issues be resolved before placing the matter on the ballot to avoid any confusion at the time of the vote.
 
"It became apparent that not all of the tasks could be completed by Sept. 17, even though all matters could probably be resolved within the next few months.
 
"An extension of the agreement is not practical because the next possible voting date is not until February, 2000, and such a delay would unduly interfere with the Monson family's business operation.
 
"We specifically note that the environmental investigation was satisfactorily completed, and there is no evidence to suggest that any remediation would be necessary.
 
Some of the issues which could not be resolved by Sept. 17 include:
  • A minor title issue revealed by the land survey. It could be cured, but not before Sept. 17.
  • A lack of time to complete a boundary line adjustment
  • Insufficient time to reach a mutual agreement of the amount of the holdback of the purchase price for the removal of organic material based on an engineer's estimate
  • Though an appraisal was obtained, insufficient time to obtain a market analysis of future sales to determine whether the proposed purchase price could be recovered over the lifetime of the developed project.
"Although we believe all the issues could be satisfactorily resolved, all of them require additional work and further agreement by the Port and Monson family. All parties agree that these issues need to be resolved before the matter should be placed on the ballot for a vote.
 
"The Port Commission expresses its appreciation to:
  • The Monson family for their cooperation and effort toward the project.
  • The City of Sunnyside staff and council for the considerable time and effort to put together an acceptable agreement regarding utilities.
  • The Port staff and consultants for their detailed attention to the project.
  • The community for its support, particularly the Community for a Better Sunnyside, which contributed considerable time and effort in support of the project.
"The Port continues to believe that the project is viable and is in the best interests of the Port District and the Sunnyside community. The Port is pleased that the project was given a good faith effort by all concerned.