Development director shares hope, frustration

RITZVILLE – Adams County Development Council Executive Director Kyle Niehenke doesn’t sugarcoat the obstacles to commercial development here.

Yet, he remains optimistic.

At the weekly Adams County Commission meeting Aug. 1, Niehenke discussed his attendance at a recent commercial conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

“I wouldn’t say all the feedback about Ritzville was positive,” he said. “Developers don’t hold back. They share their honest opinions.”

He observed that some locals have the mindset that “it’s just too expensive here, so development is never going to happen.”

Niehenke countered that deve...