Commissioner Swannack Discovers Kamiak Butte

Commissioner holding map

In a stunning development that left observers of local governance both bemused and alarmed, Commissioner Arthur Swannack recently revealed he was blissfully unaware that Kamiak Butte—a crown jewel of the Palouse and National Natural Landmark—resides within his own district. The revelation came during a Whitman County Board of Commissioners meeting, proving the county commission has as firm a grasp on geography as it does on county code.

While Whitman County residents are used to surprises at county meetings, this one came with a particular irony. Kamiak Butte has been a centerpiece in the community’s growing concerns over the Harvest Hills Wind project—concerns Swannack has been steadfastly deflecting.

A Landmark of Confusion

Kamiak Butte is not just a beloved local feature—it’s a federally recognized National Natural Landmark, a hiking destination, and a rare glimpse into the pre-agricultural Palouse ecosystem. It’s also a key battleground in the Harvest Hills debate, which has pitted residents, conservationists, and even neighboring counties against Whitman County’s commissioners.

Swannack’s oversight raises obvious questions: If a commissioner doesn’t know where the most famous landmark in his district is, how closely has he been paying attention to the broader impacts of industrial development there? And more importantly, who is paying attention?

Well, the developers are.

While Swannack needed a verbal map to locate Kamiak Butte, Harvest Hills Wind and its parent company, Vestas, have known exactly where it is since at least 2017. Their plans skirt dangerously close to the Butte, with turbines poised to loom over its fragile ecosystem and mar its unbroken horizon. Locals, photographers, and geologists are well aware of how quickly such developments could transform the Butte from a natural treasure into a steel and carbon fiber monument to big city developers and shortsighted planning.

Leadership on Autopilot

The problem, of course, is not just a matter of one commissioner’s geography quiz gone wrong. It’s a microcosm of a broader leadership failure. Swannack’s disconnection—whether from the map or his constituents—reflects a growing frustration among residents: their voices are being ignored while industrial developers seem to have a standing invitation to the table.

Commissioner Swannack, for his part, is not alone in his ambiguity. Commissioners Michael Largent and Tom Handy have also faced mounting criticism for prioritizing the project’s speed over due diligence. Outdated county codes have allowed Harvest Hills to push ahead with plans that other counties have outright rejected. One frustrated resident put it: “It’s like they don’t care what we lose as long as someone else wins.”

Kamiak Butte: A Refresher

For the commissioner’s benefit, Kamiak Butte sits just northeast of Pullman and offers one of the best-preserved examples of Palouse prairie ecosystem in the United States. Its stunning views of rolling farmland have inspired generations of photographers, hikers, and geologists—not to mention its designation as a National Natural Landmark. Visitors can enjoy a relatively short hike to its summit, where they’re greeted by sweeping vistas and, occasionally, wind turbine proposals looming ominously on the horizon.

While it’s never too late to learn where a landmark is, it’s often far too late to save it once the wrong people find it on a map.

The people of the Palouse know this. They know what they stand to lose, even if their commissioner had to be reminded it exists. For them, Kamiak Butte isn’t just a natural wonder; it’s a test of whether their elected leaders are capable of standing up for the land and the people they were chosen to represent, or whether they’ll continue fumbling for directions while outsiders carve up the Palouse.

As for Commissioner Swannack, one can only hope that now that he knows where Kamiak Butte is, he’ll find his way to doing something to protect it.

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