Planning commission renews Columbia Ridge conditional-use permit after tax-collector letter is added to the record

The Gilliam County Planning Commission voted on March 24 to renew the conditional-use permit for Columbia Ridge LLC’s plasma gasification and hydrogen-production facility, after staff found the company generally in compliance and a county tax-collector’s letter about long-standing delinquent taxes was added to the official record.

Planning Director Stephanie Case told commissioners the application before them was a required review of the existing permit and that staff found the applicant’s narrative demonstrated substantial compliance. Case read into the record a letter from the Gilliam County tax collector stating the company has delinquent county property taxes dating to 2013 and “owes a total of $461,178.35 in taxes and interest charges.” Case recommended adding that correspondence to the record for the commission’s consideration.

Jeff Thurmond, identified as president of InnoTech, addressed the commission and described the facility’s history and recent operations. Thurmond said the company has paid “a little over $400,000 in interest so far” and that the business expects to pay remaining back taxes as it completes its transition to full commercial hydrogen production. He described the plant as originally built in 2011, later used for demonstrations and testing, and nearing commissioning of hydrogen production, with plans to expand staffing once fully operational.

Commission discussion centered on the staff findings, the tax-letter and operational details the applicant provided. Commissioners formally moved to add the tax-collector’s letter to the record and then voted to approve the renewal of CUP2026-01 as presented (the motion was recorded in the minutes as moved by Don Jemison and seconded by Erin Heidemann). One commissioner, Aaron, abstained from the final vote; the motion otherwise carried.

Why it matters: The decision allows the Columbia Ridge facility to continue operating under its conditional-use permit while the record now contains an explicit statement from county tax officials about a decade-long delinquency. The letter and the applicant’s response provide accountability details for county officials and the public. The commission’s action does not itself collect taxes; it approved the land-use permit while noting the tax-collection history.

What’s next: The permit was renewed with no modifications to the conditions of approval as presented. Any further compliance, enforcement or collection actions would be handled by the county tax office or other county procedures, not by the planning commission.