EDC Director Concealed $300,000 Debt to State for Four Months While Her Contract Under Review3/1/2023 Pend Oreille Economic Development Council Director Jamie Wyrobek concealed for four months from the County Commissioners that the State Department of Commerce had demanded the County repay $300,000 after the EDC breached its contract with the State. The County Commissioners were actively debating Wyrobek’s employment contract during this time and revealing that she was responsible for a $300,000 debt for the County could reasonably be expected to have adversely impacted the outcome of the debate over whether it was worth continuing to fund the EDC and Wyrobek’s lucrative $75,551annual salary. During her decade-long tenure as director (and the sole salaried employee), the EDC has made few, if any, accomplishments—especially accomplishments that justify a salary more than twice the county average and over $1 million of taxpayer funds spent. The EDC had entered into a contract with the Commerce in 2017 to use $300,000 from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund to create 200 jobs in Pend Oreille County within five years in partnership with HiTest Sand, Inc. HiTest was exploring the possibility of building a silicon smelter in the County, but subsequently selected a site in Tennessee for its facility. The five-year contract window expired last year, no jobs were created, and the State wants its ill-spent money back. Last October, Commerce sent a letter and a billing invoice to Wyrobek (see attached documents). The letter stated: “Washington State is requesting Pend Oreille EDC repay the $300,000 from the investment of SRF [Strategic Reserve Funds] to HiTest Sand Inc. within 30 days of receipt of this letter.” The EDC is created and funded by the Pend Oreille County Commissioners, which leaves the County’s taxpayers responsible for repayment. Wyrobek concealed the letter's existence, the County’s debt, and the State’s demand for repayment until mid-February. Wyrobek surprised the commissioners at the February EDC meeting when she stated she was sending a letter to HiTest requesting repayment. Still, she only revealed the letter's existence under direct questioning from Commissioner Robert Rosencrantz. During discussions, Rosencrantz had raised concerns about the disposition of the grant funds last September, and whether the high cost of funding Wryobek’s position and an EDC budget was an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. As chairman, County Commissioner John Gentle was responsible for the EDC when Commerce demanded repayment from the County and had fiduciary oversight of the organization on behalf of the County. Did Gentle know? Whether or not the EDC is a waste of taxpayer dollars may be debatable, but what is not is that Wyrobek and EDC have broken trust with the County – And it’s hard to do business with people you can’t trust. NOTE: Ms. Wyrobek will be reporting to the County Commissioners on Monday, March 6 at 1:30 pm. You can watch her explain her conduct in person in the County Commissioners conference room or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/5094474119 You can download and read the Commerce Letters to the EDC below: 
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