Top Secret WECRD Emails...

A Means To An End...

From: "Sara" at HUD

To: Betty Ashcraft

Sent: Mon, December 21, 2009 5:40:36 PM

Subject: RE: Western

Thanks---I see the site plan and Ashley's description of where the tanks are in relation to the plan is helpful. So can you confirm that the only use of that open space between tanks and the building will be parking? No benches, tables, grass areas where people might congregate?

From: Betty Ashcraft

Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:42 AM

To: Ashley; Sara at HUD and environmental firm

Subject: Re: Western

Thanks, Ashley for the clarification.

Sara, does that answer the issue? The parking areas have not been determined until we have a final design plan from the YMCA and that won't happen until 2010, probably next summer. We can address that issue with the architect at the time of design to avoid any close relation with the tanks if they are still there.

Thanks for your help,

Betty Ashcraft

From: Ashley at environmental firm

To: Sara at HUD; Betty Ashcraft

Sent: Thu, December 17, 2009 9:08:48 AM

Subject: RE: Western

Sara and Betty,

A site plan showing the proposed footprint and distances from storage tanks was included in the EA on page B73. However, parking areas are not included on this site plan. The site plan shows that the building is 231 feet away from the property boundary. The tanks are located right on the property boundary approximately 245 feet east of 18th Street. This might help some, but an updated site plan showing the outdoor areas is needed.

Ashley

From: Sara at HUD

Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 5:53 PM

To: Betty ashcraft

Subject: RE: Western

Hello Betty.

If the tanks at the site next door are officially decommissioned as part of the cleanup, you will not have to consider them in your environmental review. It might be worthwhile to check is that is planned. If they are merely empty but still standing, we have to treat them as if they are full, because a new owner could fill them at any time.

As far as what we need, it would be nice to see a site plan showing the proposed footprint, distances from storage tanks etc. The plan should also show any outdoor areas (picnic benches, parking areas etc.)

A new question for you on toxics: can you tell me what was going on with the property since 2006? Were any crops grown or pesticides/herbicides used on the property since then?

Sara at HUD

From: Betty Ashcraft [

Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:28 AM

To: Sara at HUD

Subject: Re: Western

Sara,

Thanks for the update. Here's the latest on the storage tanks: The property next door is undergoing some cleanup. I have not confirmed as yet the placement of the storage tanks, but I was told that they were nearly empty last spring and expected to be empty by this fall. Will that affect their status?

On February 9, 2009, I had received an email from Stan Olson, our architect, that the current position of the storage tanks was 240 feet from the proposed building site. Since that time we have entered into talks with the YMCA and our building design will be altered according to the future market study. The building will still be within the footprint created by Stan Olson and Todd Waite, the surveyor. The footprint is what is 240 feet from the storage tanks.

There are no planned outdoor activities that would require the extra distance.

Do you need an official letter from Stan stating these distances from the storage tanks? Do you need an official letter from Todd Waite about the footprint of the building in relation to the storage tanks? Do you need a letter from the WECRD about there being no outdoor activities?

I will put together whatever you require. Thanks for your assistance.

Betty Ashcraft

These emails are interesting because the WECRD entered into a contract with the YMCA and the CDLC to come up with a plan that would be viable and sustainable for this community. If you have been to any of the YMCA Public Meetings you would have heard the YMCA tell people that they do not know if there is even going to be a building. We do not even know at this point if Mountain Home will be able to support a facility much less an athletic or recreation space of this size.

There is no "footprint" for a building at this time because the YMCA and CDLC have not come up with a plan yet and there has not been a market study done yet.

So, the question that just "begs" to be asked is this. Why has the WECRD entered into a very expensive consulting agreement, which is being paid for with our tax dollars, with the YMCA when clearly they have their own plan/agenda and do not intend to follow the plan of these groups?

The CDLC is made up of people from our community who have DONATED their time to come up with a plan that will work for this community. Why waste the time of these people when clearly you have a plan of your own? Why waste the time of the YMCA who could be working with another community who really needs and wants their help? And even more important---why waste the TAXPAYER(S) money to do what you (the WECRD Board) want regardless of the results of the YMCA and CDLC?

These emails very clearly represent a breach of public trust, yet again and a waste of taxpayer money. Very clearly, this is the theme of Mollie, Jana and Marsha. These emails speak for themselves.