Laserfiche WebLink
<br />54 <br /> <br />companies need to supply local governments with employment plans relative <br />to construction and permanent workers, capital investment schedules and <br />plans for employee housing, Finally, there is need for a better "trigger- <br />ing mechanism" to signal the start of implementation of development plans. <br /> <br />There are several alternatives that would encourage industry cooperation <br />with community level planning problems. One possibility is the establish- <br />ment of a formal energy facility siting procedure which would mandate co- <br />operation. A second approach, recommended by the Advisory Committee, is <br />to develop incentives that would encourage energy firms to make timely <br />and complete disclosures of their plans to communities likely to be im- <br />pacted, and to the state Impact Office. <br /> <br />To facilitate better financial planning at the local level, the state Im- <br />pact Office should have funds available for local government. These fi- <br />nancial planning grants should be of sufficient magnitude to allow local <br />government entities to contract for technical assistance when not avail- <br />able at the state level, and to at least partially reimburse local govern- <br />ments for their financial planning costs, The Committee does not think <br />that local governments should bear the full cost of planning. Community <br />financial resources should be conserved to meet front-end financing needs <br />when impacts occur. <br /> <br />In most cases, it will not be feasible or even appropriate for local gov- <br />ernments to begin construction of facilities (school classrooms, water <br />distribution systems, sewage treatment facilities, etc,) in anticipation <br />of an influx of new residents. Nor is it practical to begin construction <br />of mobile home pads or new homes in advance of energy development. How- <br />ever, if communities are requested by an energy company to proceed with <br />construction of facilities prior to the influx of new residents, local <br />government officials should ask for performance guarantees from industry <br />in the event anticipated growth does not materialize. <br />