URA board ignores county's letter, OKs N. Lewiston project

Over official objections from Nez Perce County, the Lewiston Urban Renewal Agency board selected the rebuilding of 18th Street North as its top priority in North Lewiston.

Board member Douglas Havens, the newly selected chairman of the Nez Perce County Commission, presented a letter urging the agency to not advance any projects until the county's lawsuit against the city over urban renewal is resolved.

"I just caution you to be very careful as this moves forward," Havens said.

Board member Mary Hasenoehrl didn't buy into the county's request, essentially calling it a stalling tactic. She pointed out that the agency hasn't done any physical work since 2013 because of county lawsuits, and speculated that the county would continue to take legal actions if they delay projects.

"I don't feel like we really can be put on hold until the county wins a lawsuit and stops us," Hasenoehrl said.

Other board members agreed, as did their new legal counsel, Ed Litteneker.

Nez Perce County's first legal bid to stop urban renewal in North Lewiston and the Nez Perce Terrace was unsuccessful. Another suit is pending, and makes a broader attempt to invalidate the entire urban renewal plan approved by the city council last year. County officials have worked to close revenue allocation districts so they can reclaim the hundreds of thousands of property tax dollars that fund urban renewal each year.

Port of Lewiston Manager David Doeringsfeld also attended the Tuesday meeting, and said port officials agree that 18th Street North should be the top priority in North Lewiston. After voting 6-1 to advance the project, with Havens voting against, board members instructed Doeringsfeld and Lewiston Public Works Director Chris Davies to continue working toward firm cost estimates for the project, and finding partners that could contribute to the cost.

Davies estimated that completely rebuilding the street - parts of which are nearly 70 years old - will cost $850,000. That number will almost surely change, however, as the city further explores the condition of water, wastewater and stormwater lines near the street, Davies said.

While those factors could push the price higher, Davies said the continuing decline in oil prices may make asphalt more affordable if and when the project is built, possibly by spring of 2016.

Proposed projects that fell by the wayside for the time being include a food processing center, a business incubator, and infrastructure improvements at the port's Harry Wall North industrial property. Doeringsfeld said the Harry Wall project can wait for a couple of years because 13 nearby acres will soon be available for development once the Eko Composting operation moves out.

Doeringsfeld said the port will make a financial contribution to the 18th Street North project, but the level won't be determined until after the port sets its budget this spring.

Marsh suggested the port could generate additional revenues by raising rates for the trucking companies that lease land adjacent to 18th Street North. But Doeringsfeld said grain growing and trucking operations use it the most, and it might be more appropriate to approach them for a contribution.

In other business, the board elected officers for the coming year, unanimously giving Joe Hulett the nod as chairman. Lewiston City Councilor Bob Blakey was elected to a second term as vice chairman.

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Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2266.