For SB, new money source
Lumber yard may bring hope
Michael Sorba, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/13/2008 09:09:29 PM PDT
SAN BERNARDINO - As some city officials focus on ways to reverse $3 million in red ink, others are growing jittery over a city budget crisis looming on the horizon.
Some financial heartburn could be easing, however, as the city may have landed a major deal to bring a lumber yard to the city, considered a plum business that could draw a steady stream of sales taxes and other fees to boost the city's coffers.
City Manager Fred Wilson has said the city could be looking at a $10 million deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, certainly ominous news in a time when the economy is weakening.
But there could be some hope.
During a special City Council meeting in March, 3rd Ward Councilman Tobin Brinker spoke of Inland Timber, a lumber yard in Grand Terrace that has been forced to relocate after the Colton Joint Unified School District acquired the land it's located on through eminent domain.
The district plans to build its third comprehensive high school at the site. According to the city's Planning Department, Inland Timber plans to relocate to San Bernardino, at a 36.2 acre site on Orange Show Road east of Waterman Avenue.
"They're a $100 million a year business," Brinker said in a phone interview. "I want the city to help this go as quickly as possible."
With the current budget crunch, Brinker says it's in the city's best interests to work "sooner than later" to bring a new, revenue-generating lode to the city.
Inland Timber's 62 employees could also generate additional tax revenue by purchasing fuel at gas pumps for its trucks and employees, Brinker said.
The number of employees also may result in additional retail spending in the area, he observed.
This is good news, especially since city officials have attributed the current deficit to a major drop in sales-tax revenue due to the slumping economy.
Employees with the Planning Department said Inland Timber is in the process of addressing environmental issues with the site.
An item on Thursday's agenda for the city's Development and Environmental Review Committee shows Inland Timber wants to build a 5,322-square-foot, one-story office building; a 12,000-square-foot storage shed; and a 29,000-square foot-milling building at the 36.2 acre site on Orange Show Road.
The site is adjacent to the Stock Building Supply store at 595 E. Orange Show Road. Stock Building Supply is the North Carolina-based parent company of Inland Timber.
Jeff Meiter, a project manager with Associated Engineers, the civil engineering firm that will design Inland Timber's Orange Show Road project, says he's looking to wrap up the planning process in the next 30 to 60 days.
Representatives from Stock Building Supply could not be reached Friday to comment on when construction might begin.
The Colton Joint Unified School District is still in the process of negotiating a settlement with Inland Timber for the land it acquired through eminent domain, said Katie Orloff, district spokeswoman.
The district has no estimate of when a settlement will be reached, Orloff said. The district has plans to begin building the high school sometime next year, she said. "We can't build the school until they're (Inland Timber) gone," Orloff said.
Inverse the financial reality.
Grand Terrace is losing taxes and employee shopping and eating at our shops and restaurants.... and getting a financial burden with the high schools, as there will be a need for additional law enforcement, and road repair and so forth.
In addition... the Lumber Yard sold US Products, and the rush to Retail sells imported items from China... so the skimming off of the sales tax is less than a fair exchange. Perhaps the School should have been built on Barton Rd, and the Lumber Yard kept in GT.... OH... I forgot... we have Doug Jacobsen and Tom Schwab to think these things out for us....
