Nov. 21, 2002: Reach interpretive center gains support of Richland district

Reach interpretive center gains support of Richland district

This story was published Nov. 21, 2002

By Nathan Isaacs
Herald staff writer

Plans to build a Hanford Reach interpretive center and museum quickly have become the front-runner to earn as much as $2.5 million from Richland's public facilities district.

The district had been struggling to decide which project to choose and was already as much as three months behind schedule in making that selection. But plans by the CREHST museum and the Friends of the Hanford Reach National Monument to work together to build the interpretive center have given the district a choice candidate.

The two groups would share in the planning, fund raising, building and operations of a project likely to begin construction before 2004.

That's a state deadline the facilities district has to meet if it wants to keep collecting 0.033 percent of the state's share of sales taxes.

The 0.033 percent share is estimated to be about $190,000 annually. The money could then be leveraged to get about $2.5 million in bond sales.

The facilities district was created in July to take advantage of a state initiative that offers money for public projects, such as convention centers, sports arenas or cultural arts centers.

Kennewick, Prosser, Pasco and Benton County also have districts. Statewide, there are about 20 districts.

Richland's district has heard proposals for five projects.

However, it wasn't until CREHST and the Hanford Reach friends group teamed up that facilities district members thought they had a project that could meet state guidelines.

"When you have only one choice, you don't have any decisions," said Richard Reisinger, a facilities district board member.

Although Reisinger's comment was said half jokingly, the facilities district has had a tough time finding a project it could endorse.

A draft schedule given to facilities district board members suggested that a project be selected by Sept. 19 with that recommendation forwarded to the Richland City Council for approval by Oct. 1.

"Every delay in the following schedule makes it more difficult to use PFD funds to support the selected project," the letter stated.

Bill Henderson, facilities district board chairman, said the board won't make a final decision until after the new year. That leaves some time to answer questions on the CREHST/Friends project such as cost, design and time schedule.

Mike Schwenk, vice president on the CREHST board, said the group is expected to soon start a yearlong fund-raising campaign for its $12 million museum with expanded exhibits.

The group also has a long-term lease with the city for Columbia Point property along Bradley Boulevard.

He said CREHST's board of directors agreed to team with the Hanford group, redesign or modify its preliminary building designs as part of the partnership and possibly move to another site.

Part of those decisions included drafting and signing the agreement to work with the Friends group.

Jim Watts, interim president of the Friends group, said it's "more than likely" his board of directors would sign onto the draft agreement tying the two groups.

Watts said the project his group proposes would cost about $10 million. That includes a possible $3 million from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which would add offices for its own use managing the monument.

The Hanford Reach friends group also looked at building the project in the Columbia Point South area. That site was recommended in a Richland City Council letter to Watts.

A study is expected to begin in the next few weeks to select the best location for the project.

The decision also could have a bearing on what project the facilities district selects, said Councilwoman Rita Mazur.