City writes BIA objecting to Quinault plan

By Steven Friederich

The Daily World

Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson has filed a complaint with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs over a plan by the Quinault Indian Nation to build a combination convenience store and tobacco stop in Aberdeen.

Mayor Simpson and City Attorney Eric Nelson also released documentation the city had previously received from the Northwest Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs that showed that the Quinault Indian Nation asked the city to acquiesce to its plan to convert the land from private property to Indian “trust” land, it had pitched the development as “a retail sales outlet that will sell fresh and processed fish and shellfish.”

The Quinault Nation owns the land at 619 E. Market on the banks of the Wishkah River and uses it as storage space for boats and a small metal warehouse. But the Quinaults had always paid property taxes on the land to the City of Aberdeen, the County and other taxing entities. Last year, the Quinaults petitioned the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to turn five parcels making up 1.14 acres into “trust” property, which would allow the Quinaults to no longer pay taxes on the land as well as build something there without needing to follow city permitting guidelines.

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs signed off on the trust land designation in a record of decision dated Aug. 22, 2011, specifically citing the idea that the Quinaults would use the land to sell fresh fish.

“The city of Aberdeen had no objection to acquisition in trust for the purpose stated in your decision: processing and retail sales of fresh fish,” Mayor Simpson writes to Acting BIA Northwest Regional Director Stanley Speaks. “This use would be a permitted use under the state Shorelines Master Plan and a welcome redevelopment of the Nation’s property in Aberdeen. The city does, however, object to the Nation’s apparent equation of fresh fish with cigarettes, liquor and gas, all sold directly on the shorelines of the Wishkah River.”

Quinault Indian Nation President Fawn Sharp said Thursday that she needed to consult with her staff on the issue before commenting.

The Record of Decision from the Bureau of Indian Affairs noted that the transfer of the Quinault land would have “minimal impact” on the tax rolls, as only two of the five parcels are on the tax rolls. The letter notes that the Quinaults paid $1,471 in taxes in 2009.

“Weighing the amount of annual taxes to be lost by the county resulting from the removal of the non-exempt land from the tax rolls on the one hand and the benefit to the Nation, I consider that this criterion weighs in favor of the acquisition,” the letter states.

The Record of Decision states that 35 Quinault fishermen participate in the Chehalis River fishery and deliver fish to the Nation’s facilities with annual landings of 250,000 to 300,000 pounds valued at $600,000.

“The highest value for this fish is in fresh fish form which involves multiple deliveries per week to the Seattle-Tacoma Airport,” the letter states. “By expanding the use of the subject property to include distribution, the Nation reduces the number of miles for delivery to the airport by 45 miles, thus saving time and money costs for transport of fish. The Nation anticipates a savings of $50,000 per year that includes the fuel, vehicle wear and tear and driver time.”

The letter notes that the location on the Wishkah River is an ideal place to increase sales of fresh fish to customers in the Aberdeen area and be better suited to distribute tribal-caught fish to Westport. The application says six jobs would be developed at a retail outlet.

The application says nothing about the plan the Quinaults recently announced for the property in the Quinault Indian Nation’s newspaper Nugguam and in an application for a liquor license with the Washington State Liquor Control Board. Phase one was to be a smoke shop, offering drive-up tobacco sales and limited walk-up sales like an existing Q-Mart at Hogan’s Corner near Ocean Shores. Next would come a gas station and convenience store “in the model of Squaxin Island’s Kamilche store,” the Nugguam wrote.

“Would it be possible for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to explain how the Nation may process its application with a proposed use that is exempt under the National Environmental Protection Act and then substitute an incompatible and non-exempt use once your decision has been made?” Mayor Simpson wrote to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Mayor Simpson had previously written a letter to the Liquor Control Board objecting to the Quinault’s application for a liquor license. Simpson said the area they want to build is the start of an area “commonly known as felony flats” and riddled with crime. Simpson said he’s afraid a store selling inexpensive liquor would be a magnet for those looking to get drunk quickly and he notes that there are already existing convenience stores several blocks away.

“We don’t need this store here,” Simpson re-affirmed Wednesday night. “I have no problem with a store selling fresh fish. I have a problem with this.”

Booze, smokes, fish, and fireworks.......what a novel idea. Real convenience. Fish sells well in places that smell like an ashtray.

Throw in some pole dancin' and a makeshift MMA cage, and they will be an economic powerhouse.

"We gonnah get rich, cuz!"

As someone who was born and raised in Aberdeen, this is really sad and Mayor Simpson is spot on with his position. I really doubt anyone from Aberdeen, Hoquiam, or Monte is going to buy fish from that store. It's just a prop to sell untaxed tobacco, booze, and kick-back gas by the tribe. And yes, that area is major bad news when it comes to being a high-crime area. Good luck Mayor!

You got it right as the plan is in stages but the gas tax kick back will allow them to undercut the other stations and that is the money they want as gambling is a side show to the gas tax. It averages about 5 to 15 cent with a real average of about 10 cents state wide. That is why the issue is in the state Supreme Court and they should rule on our darling Governor's sell out in the next few months.

??????? 4 blocks from the Aberdeen police department, don't see crime as being a major problem.

My objection is the "back door" way the QIN is trying to push this plan, thru........think someone speaks with forked tongue!!!!!

If the five parcels aren't currently tribal trust land and are within the Aberdeen city limits, how are three parcels not on the tax roll?

Throw in some slot machines and some table games, too!

Well, maybe I'm mistaken, but if that location is on the Wishkah River on the way to East Aberdeen, I fully stand by my comment! 30 years ago, my dad used to refer to that area as "Little Tijuana". I just call it a slum. A lot happens in 4 blocks in Aberdeen!

Well LE it is in the industrial area that has several businesses in it. Not to much residential until you go a bit down the road. I imagine the vast majority of the working class folks that live in the area just might tell you where and what orifice you can / could / should put it as they most likely do not regard their homes as slums.

Frankly I think your head has been in a methane rich environment way to long!

I am sorry if this offends anyone...but come on BIA! This is complete crap...off site business ventures by tribes should subcome to the laws of the state/local jurisdictions...there is no reason in this day and age to create any more exemptions based on historical race inequality. The Q's might as well pool all their cash for some real primetime real estate acreage in DT Seattle or B-Vue and gain exemptions in places with true personal economic benefit. Enough is enough.

Rivrguy--
You might want to take a drive, LE is dead on and just because he calls it a slum and others call it home does not change the fact it is a slum and has very high crime rate.
That area makes the news weekly and not for the volunteer work or community service.

The BIA's job is to advocate for Indian interests, so I wouldn't expect much help from them. However it's not like the Quinault don't already have a homeland (reservation), so the only purpose of trust status is to circumvent local planning and zoning, taxes, and create a tax-free business location. Not quite what Indian trust lands have traditionally meant. If at least one Indian family planned to live there the proposal would have that basic merit.

The water front area there is a industrial area on the Wishkah and primarily provides support for larger industries. And I do drive past guy at least twice a week but to the point. Take the word slum and put it where the sun does not shine. I am well off enough that I live in a rather exclusive spot. That never gives me the right to call someone of less means a derogatory name and / or imply that where they live is sub standard. I fail at many things in life but never do I drop that low.

Having worked Felony Flats for over 20 years during a L.E career I can tell you there have been more Robberies, Burglaries, Rapes and Murders in that area of Aberdeen than anywhere else. Some one mentioned in a recent letter to the newspaper that it would be a nice area for a playground. Any idea how many reg and non reg sex offenders frequent that area ? They could have a park there like the one on Heron street. A place all the junkies can toss their used needles and pass out.

It is the "armpit" of Grays Harbor.

Ah there we go back to the subject. Better, and I think your correct on the perception or rather projected view. The BIA thing was about fish but the goal really is booze / cigs / and gas with the ultimate being gas. The thing about it is that the tax loss to Aberdeen would be substantial and it would really alter the economics of the town. Sounds strange that could be but it is not so much the size of the tribal stores but the volume they move. Gas pretty much the same and all the difference is from the non tribal outlets as they do collect TAXES and keep it or get it back. They are tribal controlled ( government ) and after the cig compacts even force tribal member non government stores to collect the tax so it effectively fixes the price the same as the rest of the state but not really. If you get the tax ( which they do ) you sell below market because you are the entity getting the tax. Works the same with gas and it simply means however much the state taxes are the tribal stores can drop right down to selling at or below cost because they get the tax money. Pretty much wipes out any competition.

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/nov/22/lawyer-vows-to-appeal-tribal-cigarette-tax-case/

They need to put that gig up in the Amanda Park area not Aberdeen or Hoqium.Good luck,
SZ

Wa tribes will get their way with our lame [Bleeeeep!] dems in office. Now that Tribal gaming is making $$$$ they can afford the best Lawyers money can buy. We are F-ed.

The site is three blocks from where I am sitting right now. Across the street from the site is a residential neighborhood.

Found this little gem in our parking lot a few weeks back.


Having worked in this area for 10 years (okay, 2 months and 2 days shy of 10 years) I can definitely say that this is a high crime area. Even with Aberdeen PD next door to us, I can expect to see a fight, or a drug deal across the street from me at the transit station at least once per week. Considering I see none of that in McCleary, I use that as my standard as a low crime area.

There is a large homeless population in the area, as well as a lot of low income types who feel free to drink in public. I am always fully dressed when I go to work. Always.

I have a much better property for them to buy.

Having lived in Aberdeen for 30 years, I have to agree with Local and Dogfish. From F street (runs along the new high school) to B St, and even farther to the river, is well known as "felony flats".

That piece looks a little familiar

I especially like the ejector rod, uh, "replacement".

Unfortunately that area of town has been overun by drunken vagrants. It's been that way for years. It is confirmed fact that many of them are supplied with bus tickets from their social workers in the Seattle/Tacoma area and shipped down here.

Why should they leave? We cater to them. They have all the free services they need to survive within walking distance.

The tribal store will only take a bad situation and make it worse IMO.