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Pearson schedules public meeting to
discuss future of Monroe honor farm
Rising costs and budget cuts closed the Monroe Honor Farm in 2001. Now
that the Department of Corrections (DOC) wants to auction off the 260
acres where the prison dairy once operated,
Rep.
Kirk Pearson believes prospective stakeholders and the public
should have a say in the honor farm’s future.
Pearson, R-Monroe, has scheduled a public meeting in conjunction with
DOC for Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Monroe Fire
Station, 163 Village Court, where citizens will have the opportunity to
speak about what should happen with the old honor farm.
"The intention of this meeting is to gather information from various
stakeholder groups that may be interested in different uses for the
property," said Pearson. "The property will be going through a
surplusing process by the end of this year. The Department of
Corrections wants to auction off the property. I want to gather
information from the public to see what uses would be compatible for
this site."
Pearson said the Tulalip Tribe is interested in the property as a place
to locate an anaerobic "digester" plant that converts cow manure to
methane, which is then used to fuel generators to produce electricity.
The tribe has secured a $250,000 federal grant from the Department of
Energy and has asked the Legislature to hold the property from sale
while the grant is used to study the project’s feasibility and
environmental issues.
However, Pearson added the local fire department, farm groups, area
agri-businesses and many others are also interested in the property.
"My intent is to maximize the state trust. If this property is to be
auctioned off, instead of in one piece, there could be multiple uses of
the acreage," added Pearson. "I feel that a public meeting to discuss
potential uses of the site will be beneficial to the community."
Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish, and Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington,
have also been invited to participate.
"I want the public to know that whatever process happens, that their
ideas and considerations will be taken into account," concluded Pearson.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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