Grant PUD commissioner finalists talk issues

QUINCY - The three finalists up for the vacant Grant County PUD district 3 board position recently met with residents to discuss how they would handle various public concerns and work with people in their district if selected.

Melva Calloway, Evan Landin and Larry Schaapman are up for the commissioner position left vacant by Randy Allred. The position will continue for the rest of Allred's term, which doesn't expire until December 2014.

District 3 covers Mattawa, Quincy, George, Royal City and rural areas west of Moses Lake. All three finalists reside in Quincy.

The PUD held a public meeting earlier this week at the Quincy Community Center, and about 40 people attended the meeting.

According to the three candidates, ratepayers seemed most concerned with the proposed 2013 rate increases.

Calloway said the meeting was helpful, since she was able to hear about some of the major concerns people in District 3 would have as well as their expectations of her if she was selected.

"It was a great opportunity for ratepayers to communicate with us about issues like the rate increases," she said.

Although she sees the importance of the revenue the rate increases would bring to PUD, Calloway said she also understands the importance of finding a "win-win" situation for the agency as well as the public.

"PUD is owned by the people we serve," she said. "So we need to keep those communication lines open."

She said she would find ways to minimize costs throughout the agency in order to keep rates as low as possible, while also ensuring the PUD can afford important capital projects necessary under recent re-licensing requirements.

"We need to invest in our infrastructure too, for the next 40 to 50 years," Calloway said.

Calloway has lived in Quincy for about 19 years. She has worked in the agriculture industry in various capacities, including working with budgets and forward planning.

Landin also said he is willing to work with ratepayers in order to make rates more affordable.

"We're in the worst economic downturn, and we owe it to ratepayers to make rates so that they can manage it in their own budgets," Landin said.

Landin said that while upgrades to the dams and fish hatchery projects are vital, there could be a way to reduce the impact of PUD spending on customers.

Landin has lived in Quincy since 1971, and served with several public and community organizations. He was also on the city council and served on the hospital board.

He spent nearly 30 years with a local food processor before retiring. Landin said he wants to be more involved with PUD decisions affecting his district.

While Schaapman also said he will work on budget concerns if selected, he said there are other issues affecting Quincy residents that he would focus on if selected.

According to Schaapman, the Crescent Bar issue concerning residential use of the publicly-owned island is still a major concern for residents.

"People want to see some results with that," he said.

Schaapman also said that the economic activity in the Quincy area has picked up, bringing a new set of customers to the PUD.

"The dynamic of this district has changed a lot over the past few years, and it's not just agriculture now," he said. "There's data centers and other companies coming here, and they need to be represented, and represented well."

Schaapman has been a resident of Quincy for about 40 years, and operates a large farming operation with his sons.

According to PUD officials, commissioners are expected to make a selection during their scheduled Nov. 13 business meeting.