ST. JOHN— Today, the Port of Whitman County Commissioners directed Executive Director Kara Riebold to enter into two Earnest Money Receipt and Agreements with property owners in St. John as a part of the Port’s ongoing Whitman County Site Reuse & Revitalization Program. 

In June 2024, staff from Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) approached the Port about a potential brownfield site in St. John. Interested in using the site for a new medical clinic, WHMC hired a geotechnical engineering firm to assess the site in 2021. The firm observed evidence of potential contamination on the site, and a need for cleanup stalled clinic construction. 

The site is currently split into two parcels owned by Dennis and Penny Hinds and the Whitman County Fire Protection District #2. Upon finalization of the agreements, the Port will enter a due diligence period, conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments, and meet with the community during the St. John Town Council meeting on October 14 at 6:30pm. If the due diligence period does not produce any unanticipated concerns, the transaction will close by October 31.  

Once the Port has ownership of the property, Port staff plan to apply for additional federal cleanup funding to address any contamination. WHMC will then lease or purchase the site from the Port to construct a new medical clinic for the community of St. John. 

“Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics is committed to serving people across Whitman County. Our current clinic is critical to the community of St. John, but was not designed as a clinic, and a new space is needed to expand medical services and maintain compliance,” said WHMC Chief Executive Officer Hank Hanigan. “We are appreciative of the Whitman County Fire Protection District #2 and the Hinds family for their willingness to enter into this agreement.” 

The public is encouraged to attend the Port’s presentation at the St. John Town Council meeting on October 14 at 6:30pm, and the Port Commission’s regular meetings on October 10 and October 23 to stay informed on the project.

“The town of St. John looks forward to this partnership with the Port of Whitman County, the current landowners, and the Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics,” St. John Mayor Mike Webb said. “There is currently a 30-mile radius of people coming into St. John to seek care, and the town is committed to keeping medical services in our community. Opening a new clinic in St. John will fill a large gap in our community and support our region.”

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About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multimodal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities.