Comments continue on national heritage plan

It is and it isn't.

That might be the best way to summarize comments in an hour-long discussion before the Wahkiakum County board of commissioners about a proposal to include Wahkiakum County in a proposed national heritage area.

Those supporting the proposal say it's designed to benefit the region's economy through promotion of tourism.

Those opposing it say it will allow unchecked interests to impose strict land use controls on private property owners.

Commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren listened to the debate--Commissioner Lisa Marsyla was absent--and said they would have another meeting May 18 at which time a representative of ShoreBank Cascadia, which would administer the proposed national heritage area, will speak.

Before the discussion got going, Brady relayed a report that the latest language in national heritage area regulations allow private property owners to opt out of the heritage area.

The National Heritage Area Act now says that any owner of private property included within the boundary of the national heritage area shall have their property immediately removed from within the boundary by submitting a written request to the management entity, Brady said, reading from a copy of the act.

The act also says in Section 9, "Nothing in this Act, (1), abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public or private), including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area."

The movement to create a national heritage area came out of the group which formed in Wahkiakum, Pacific and Clatsop counties to promote the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observation, said Richard Erickson, former executive director of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council. The group supported a festival, events and signs to help visitors locate points of interest.

In 2007, they identified themselves as gateway communities to market the area and decided to pursue the national heritage area program. After gaining support from Congress, a feasibility study for that proposal in underway.

"We came up with the logo Columbia-Pacific," Erickson said. "It's branding; that's what it is."

Sandi Benbrook-Rieder, former president of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, said that group supports the concept. The program could help promote tourism and support traditional business and industry, she said.

Cathlamet Mayor George Wehrfritz spoke in favor of the proposal. It's not a land grab, he said, adding, "I see an effective marketing tool. Providing additional information will only enhance our tourism industry. Tourism helps existing business."

Other speakers countered that the program will lead to governmental infringement on property rights.

"I feel the pain of people with businesses in this area," said Lilly Colditz. "You're having problems because the government has already messed with your property."

She cited an article stating that tourism benefits rarely materialize as predicted under national heritage area programs.

"I'm incensed that someone who wants to increase the bottom line of their business will lock up our businesses," she added.

"I don't want the county commissioners or anyone signing my property up for a government program," said Dennis Reed. "I spent decades administering government programs, and they all have strings attached."

"The federal government is involved in too many things," said Richard Riley. "When it gets its mitts in it, it goes gunny bag."

Commissioner Cothren echoed that concern.

"I've read up a lot on this," he said. "Where I have an issue is in dealing with the feds. We (the county) have 3,000 acres (of timberland) that is locked up with endangered species. They tell me it was never the intent of the federal government to do that to that extent; that was the state and (former Commissioner of Public Lands) Jennifer Belcher. This is where things can happen. Your elected officials down the road could take control of this.

"The opt out is good. That lifted a big load off my shoulders."