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Riverside City Council may hire consultant to deal with Earthpark

Mary Zielinski

Washington Evening Journal

September 12, 2006

[Note: This material is copyright by the Washington Evening Journal and Golden Triangle Newspapers, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of Golden Triangle Newspapers.]

      With a 50 percent chance Earthpark may take root in Riverside, Mayor Bill Poch wants the city to have some help when it comes to sitting down at the table and dealing with proponents of the $155 million environmental education project.

      "They will make a decision very soon, probably at the end of September," Poch told the city council at its meeting Thursday, Sept. 7, and asked that the city consider hiring a consultant to deal with the issue if Riverside becomes the Earthpark site.

      "We've heard that all year," said council member Brian McDole of the announcement of a site selection.

      Poch explained that he has talked with the city manager in Burlington, who had some suggestions, but who also "is willing to come and meet and talk with us." There would be no fee involved and Poch noted that Burlington, like Riverside, has a casino. The just-opened Riverside Casino and Golf Resort is a backer of the Earthpark to the tune of $12 million in funds from the casino and the Kehl Family who is its majority owner.