Wahluke School District, nonprofit discuss farming district-owned land

MATTAWA — The Wahluke School Board instructed Wahluke School District Superintendent Robert Eckert on Feb. 11 to work on a memorandum of understanding or lease with the Wahluke Enrichment Organization to allow it to farm a piece of land owned by the district.

In December, there was some concern that renting the land to the WEO could be viewed as a conflict of interest since school board member Seth Weeks was also the vice president of the nonprofit. In January, Weeks resigned his position with the WEO, resolving the situation.

During the Feb. 11 board meeting, Hans Groenke, president of the WEO, asked the school board to grant WEO a three-year lease on the property.

Over the past few years, the school district has had a hard time finding farmers willing to farm the field because of a farm circle that is difficult to deal with, according to school board chair Lorraine Jenne.

Last year, the WEO farmed the piece of ground in question and felt like it wasn’t given a chance to really see the benefit from it. The organization put in approximately $3,000 into the electrical side of the circle, according to Groenke.

The WEO is a nonprofit group that helps promote youth activities in Mattawa. Over the past several years, the group has donated money to youth sports and the Amazing Warrior Shake, resurfaced two softball fields and planted a pumpkin patch. It plans to build an 80-by-100-foot facility that will be donated to the school district upon completion. In return, the WEO would get first choice to use the building for its youth sports programs if the school district isn’t using the building.

“We want another shot to get some money in the bank to fund youth sports,” Groenke said. Farming the field “was a big help last year. It could have been a bigger help. I think we’ve done enough work on it to get it through the year.”

Weeks said an agreement needs to be on the agenda for the next meeting as farming season is quickly approaching. The board is expected to vote on the matter today.

Rachal Pinkerton may be reached via email at rpinkerton@columbiabasinherald.com.