One of the many complaints about the Port’s option to buy land on the North Spit from Weyco is the perceived lack of public process possibly denying input from concerned citizens. Several letters have been written to the State attorney general regarding the legality of two appraisals done to justify a $25 million price tag for 1,300 acres of land with probably pollution issues. In this video Jody McCaffree and Richard Chasm try to advise the commission of potentially serious flaws in the appraisals but you will notice in this video from September, 2008, Dave Kronsteiner, president of the commission, appears to consider public comments a matter of formality that need to be hurried along.
In January 2011, Jeff Bishop, executive director of the International Port of Coos Bay, gave a presentation to the board requesting the Weyco land deal and its many past option modifications and all anticipated future contract modifications are appropriate for the ‘consent calendar’ effectively denying the public any future input whatsoever. The commission unanimously agreed to pass the consent calendar, including the Weyco land option.
Bishop appears annoyed during this presentation and while Commissioner Caddy McKeown thanks him afterward calling the presentation ‘clarifying’, questions raised about the appraisal were not addressed. In a cash transaction between two parties, it would be fair to say that a mutually agreed upon price is sufficient for valuation. When, however, there is borrowed money and the public property, in this case the Port, is involved more substantial verification is necessary. I will have the appraisals scanned and available for download in the next few days.
Agreed, fred, there is something seriously amiss with how the Port conducts its business.
Jody is awesome!
During my professional life I was blessed to meet heads of state and heads of global business. The best of the best. Mr. Port Commission Man would NEVER be confused with any of them. I spoke once before that port commission and Mr. Port Man insited on interrupting me and when my five minutes were up, he refused to let me speak further. The port lady treated this taxpaying citizen like dog crap. People in the audience who were scheduled to speak following me, people who were unknown to me, but apparently believing that I had a worthy message, yielded their time to me. Mr. Port Commission man woiuld have none of that and merrily moved on to other business as if nothing had happened. GOD bless Ms. McCaffree for trying to educate the people – although we don’t always agree on her message.