MLIRD holds second public hearing Monday night

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District held an open forum Monday night, moderated by two legislators and a third-party representative.

State Sen. Janéa Holmquist-Newbry and state. Rep. Judy Warnick, both R-Moses Lake, furiously took notes as dozens of residents and rate payers shared their opinions with upcoming changes with the district.

Mike Schwisow, a lobbyist with the State Irrigation District Association, acted as moderator.

"I took 12 pages of notes last time, and I expect to take 12 more pages tonight," Warnick said, referring to the last public hearing the district held.

Speakers from the audience brought up similar issues over and over during the 90-minute hearing, including voting rights, lack of information regarding state legislation and unintended effects along other junior taxing districts in Grant County and the other irrigation districts throughout the state.

Several audience members touted the idea of spreading the MLIRD board leadership from three members to five.

The idea has been bandied around for several year now, which would supplement the board of Mick Hansen, Rich Archer and Ron Covey with two additional members.

Also a major talking point was how votes were divided among the rate payers.

The state-wide norm is to base special assessment districts - such as the MLIRD - on the amount of parcels a property owner has.

Unlike most elections, special assessment districts typically cast weighted ballots where the parcel owners receive more votes rather than the individual.

"All the rest of the irrigation districts are happy with the election provision," Schwisow said.

But the MLIRD is unique in the state, combining irrigation and rehabilitation districts into one.

"I'm hoping that the one-man, one-vote is sort of the prevalent thing," resident and rate payer Mike Smith said.

"If you're going to base it on who pays, base it on who pays," another audience member said.

The issue at hand, however, becomes one between property rights issues, not necessarily voter rights issues.

Another major contention repeatedly brought up was against state legislative action brought up during special session straddling 2011 and 2012 regarding the district.

"I think local problems should be solved by local folks," another speaker said. "It's kind of a stretch to believe that legislators can solve problems here."

"This may be a landmark decision," rate payer Larry Godden said. "And if it adversely affects other irrigation districts in the state, we're going to look like we've got a black eye."

The vocal majority of the audience agreed that the state Legislature has no business fixing any issues with the MLIRD, and that solutions should be handled at home.