West Richland Complex Information & Comments Form

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In 2021, Benton REA purchased 17 acres of land for future development. The land is located in West Richland on Cooperative Way, just off Keene Road.

 

Aging facilities require improvements in both West Richland and Prosser. 

  • Increase costs to address maintenance and repair issues 
  • Current HVAC failing - increased frequency of service calls and cost 
  • Electrical issues causing internal loss of power, overloading circuits 
  • Run down facilities due to age and increased traffic 

 

All members benefit from future property improvements. 

  • West Richland complex results in several properties in Prosser and West Richland that are surplus and can be sold 
  • District office and crew will remain in the Prosser area to serve members closer to it
  • Will consolidate district office facilities and eliminate crews stopping at 2-4 locations to get material before they leave for the outage or job site  
  • Operational efficiencies result in more work time, faster response time = better service
  • Improves service to everyone, not just those closer to West Richland 

 

New Complex Flyer

All comments will be posted on this site for members to view. Please refrain from using profane language. All comments will be reviewed for such language prior to posting.

Community Comments

Charles Kuhlman

I am opposed to this course of action. Especially the "we have already purchased the property, approve this expense" approach. Having worked in secure facilities for a twenty plus year career in the military, postulating about the time it takes to open and close a couple gates as a worthy trade off for incurring a 20+million dollar bill is NONSENSE. Especially in farm country where gates are a way of life to contain livestock. I am opposed to what appears to be a "shiny penny" facility chase. In my opinion, it would appear Prosser is infected with it between the High school, hospital, police station (somewhat understandable) and now Benton REA. Several other members have already voiced what I would reiterate... namely I agree with concerns expressed by Michelle Miller, Brad Ross, Nadine Highland, Donna Noskey and Alys Means. I am tired of the multiple persons that belly up to my dinner table every night (in the form of taxes and levys) who never show up to pull weeds or any other type of productive work.