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By Paula Collucci
Business-to-Business
Ritchie Brothers real estate acquisition manager Scott Lennon said that Lewis County can provide exactly what the auction company needs.
“We evaluated many sites: some sites north of Everett towards Marysville, sites throughout Thurston and Lewis counties, to find something suitable,” he said.
Lennon said that his company needs a location that is close to a major highway. The company wants a location that will minimize traffic on county roads but is still seen from the interstate.
Ritchie Brothers found just a site on about 120 acres, west of Interstate 5, between Koontz Road and U.S. Highway 12.
Quite simply, Ritchie Brothers outgrew its Maytown location. Lennon said that Ritchie Brothers and Thurston County tried to find another site, but were unsuccessful.
If Ritchie Brothers does acquire the Napavine site, the business would employ as many as 25 full-time employees and between 50 and 100 part-time auction jobs—not to mention it would bring about 2,000 auction goers from all over.
But there are still two initial roadblocks barring the project.
“The invalidity order that is placed on Lewis County—that’s paramount,” Lennon noted. He said the order that prohibits development on agricultural land is expected to be lifted in the next few weeks. The self-imposed moratorium is also expected to be lifted in February.
“We will, potentially, be submitting a special use permit in the spring or summer of 2010,” Lennon forecasted.
Construction can begin after the various environmental checklists are fulfilled. But the auction company picked a site clear of wetlands—and flooding potentials, Lennon said.
“This site is way up above the flood plains,” he explained. “It makes sense for responsible site development.”
The company makes every effort to be a good neighbor and prefers the rural settings for its locations, Lennon said.
“Although we are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,” Lennon said. “Our use is limited to about four to five auctions a year.”
That means community groups, like 4-H and equestrian clubs can rent the property during non-auction periods. Lennon likened the usually-vacant site to county fairgrounds, race tracks and equestrian parks.
“We fit well with agricultural communities,” he noted. Ritchie Brothers has similar arrangements in Minnesota and Colorado rural areas.
But the pecuniary ramifications are an increased tax base and supportive business opportunities.
Each average auction brings in about $20 million, so sales tax revenues will see spikes each quarter after a sale. Plus, there will be a need for everything from portable toilets to glass and tires for auction equipment repair, Lennon noted.
The self-contained site in Napavine, if given the green light, will have room for its own parking lot and house several buildings totaling about 70,000 square feet.
Lennon said Ritchie Brothers is eager to get started.
“Dick Larman (of the Economic Development Council) is just fantastic. He is a solid guy and great to work with,” Lennon said. “We are looking forward to calling Lewis County in Washington home for many years to come.”
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