Sharon Ullman - Ada County Commissioner

Emissions Testing Program Facts

2010-03-16T10:56:00.003-06:00

The story in today’s Idaho Statesman about vehicle emissions testing contains several inaccuracies and/or misrepresentations.

First, I have been advocating reducing the number of required emissions tests since I first served on the Air Quality Board in 2001, as the relevant science has shown the additional tests do little to improve our air quality. The Board finally voted in December of 2009 to reduce testing frequency as of January 1, 2010. This change was in no way precipitated by, “a state program forcing the tests on Canyon County drivers.”

Second, because of the dramatic reduction in the number of required emissions tests, the Ada County Air Quality Board expected about half of the testing stations to go out of business soon with or without SysTech and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in the picture.

Third, if the county joins the DEQ program, Ada County vehicle owners stand to save up to $9 per emissions test which would add up to over a million dollars each of the next five years. This money will stay in the pockets of individuals, who will then be able to save it or invest it however they see fit, in the local economy.

Fourth, the article states that in Canyon County, “people may have no choice but to get out of their cars and go to a waiting room while their car is tested”. Nothing stops us, in Ada County, from requiring DEQ to set up a certain percentage of drive-in/drive-out testing sites. In addition, nothing prohibits Canyon County vehicle owners from watching the test be performed on their vehicle either.

Fifth, the Ada County emissions testing program and the DEQ rules have a prohibition against testing stations also doing repairs. This rule is in place to prevent testing stations from purposely failing vehicles. If a testing station fails to abide by this rule, they stand to have their license to operate evoked.

Sixth, the DEQ and SysTech emissions testing program has significantly greater anti-fraud protections in place than the current Ada County program. To imply otherwise is not only grossly misleading, but is also a disservice to all Ada County vehicle owners.

For more factual information about vehicle emissions testing, check out the DEQ website at http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air/prog_issues/emissions_testing/treasure_valley_program.cfm

The bottom line is that DEQ and SysTech offer the opportunity for Ada County vehicle owners to save over $1 million a year for five years for a government-mandated emissions test that many of us view with suspicion to begin with. That savings is good for vehicle owners and for the local economy.

Family Values

2010-03-11T15:54:00.004-07:00

Well folks, it’s political season again and speculation about the next eleven weeks is running rampant. Political types have pulled out tired old campaign rhetoric to try to wow us, once again. One of my favorites is the old cliché about, “Family values.” I’ll tell you a little bit about what the phrase means to me.

I value my family so much that I want to be sure we live in a community and a state in which our constitutional rights are protected. I value my family so much that I want our government to have a different set of priorities. For example, last year at a COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho) Board Meeting, I learned that the Idaho Transportation Department does not prioritize the implementation of signalized crosswalks even at locations known to be dangerous, until someone gets killed there.

As a mother of six children, ranging in age from 23 down to six, I have a different view of “family values.” Let’s start placing a high enough value on the people of our state – including our children – that we take a proactive approach to public safety. Family values must begin with valuing our Idaho families.

Solution-Based Government

2010-03-04T17:58:00.001-07:00

It’s been quite some time since I posted anything on my blog, not because things are quiet but rather, to the contrary, because it’s been so busy that I haven’t found the time.

These days, I am working on the following major issues:

· Teaming up with Idaho State University, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Central District Health Department to provide free health screenings by ISU health sciences students to underserved adults in the community in an effort to keep folks with problems from ending up in the costly emergency room at taxpayer expense. I’ll provide more details on this project soon.

· Working with Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and his staff to fight back against the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation that would require Ada County to add scales out at the landfill at an estimated cost of $1 million to ratepayers.

· Working with community members and legislators to improve the situation with regard to horse racing at Idaho Downs (formerly known as Les Bois Park) including taking a serious look at legislative fixes to reduce the government red tape.

· Learning more about the emissions testing program that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is implementing in Canyon County. If our questions about the program are all satisfactorily addressed, Ada County residents stand to save over $1 million a year with the $11 per emissions test price tag.

· Working with colleagues from Eastern Idaho on statewide radio interoperability. In addition we are having conversations about how to deal with the fact that the state is taking more than the 20 percent administration fee from federal grant funds that are passed through to local agencies, such as our own Ada City-County Emergency Management organization.

My approach to these issues is to try to find workable solutions that limit government regulation and decrease costs to taxpayers and ratepayers. I call it, “Solution-Based Government.”

Correlation Between Age and Political Position?

2010-02-05T16:57:00.008-07:00

In “The cool kids vs. curmudgeons on the streetcar” an opinion piece that appeared in yesterday’s Idaho Statesman, Kevin Richert outlined Boise Mayor Dave Bieter’s latest strategy for promoting his $60 million boondoggle, the downtown Boise streetcar.

Richert’s piece has a new explanation for the difference of opinion between streetcar enthusiasts and detractors. “Part of the divide is generational, says Bieter; younger business leaders tend to support the idea. But Bieter also breaks things down as a schism between the ‘institutional’ Downtown and the ‘entrepreneurial’ Downtown. The entrepreneurs, he says, see an amenity that will draw talented workers and promote a green economy.”

“’They have a vested interest in that economy being vibrant, being entrepreneurial, and being future-oriented,’ Bieter told the Statesman editorial board Tuesday.

“So you can be one of those stodgy Downtown fogies and oppose the streetcar, or you can join all the cool kids and hop on board. No peer pressure there, huh?”

Richert is right on with his editorial and I have news for Mayor Bieter. I am years younger than he is and I oppose the downtown Boise streetcar. In this particular case, age is clearly not the determining factor.

Consolidation Saves Money

2010-02-01T15:52:00.001-07:00

At Ada County, we have been working diligently to ensure that tax and fee payers pay no more than necessary for county services. One of the tools we have used to cut costs without adversely affecting service is consolidation.

The Communications Department has been consolidated into the Department of Administration, and two positions were eliminated, saving taxpayers almost $192,000. Additional savings from the subsequent reorganization of the Department of Administration saved another $57,000.

When long-time Solid Waste Services Director Dave Neal retired late last year after 34 years of service to the County, we consolidated the landfill under the Operations Department, saving tax and fee payers nearly $88,000.

Mr. Neal did a tremendous job managing the landfill and was instrumental in bringing the Gas-to-Energy program to Ada County in which a private company burns the methane gas generated by the landfill and converts it to energy. Not only does this program eliminate much of the odor affiliated with landfill gas, but it helps the county meet EPA and DEQ requirements for disposal of the gas as well. An added benefit is the fact that the program generates about a quarter of a million dollars worth of revenue for the landfill, allowing the county to keep fees at least somewhat lower than they would otherwise be.

The Gas-to-Energy program saves additional dollars, as well. Last year, DEQ initially wanted the county to place an additional landfill gas-burning flare at the landfill – at a cost of nearly $1 million -- to continue to address landfill gas issues; however, Commission Chairman Fred Tilman worked closely with DEQ leaders and was able to get them to accept the gas-to-energy engines in lieu of another costly flare.

Total savings to county tax and fee payers: Over $1.3 million.

Words Matter

2010-02-01T15:45:00.001-07:00

Intentions matter. An issue I thought had been resolved the first time I held a seat on the Board of Ada County Commissioners has come back around.

The Prosecutor’s Office uses a standardized form to create Resolutions for the Board to consider, containing the following language:

“AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ADA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, State of Idaho, on the _____ day of __________, 2010, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted, to wit:”

Unless the Idaho Open Meeting Law is being violated, who knows whether any given Resolution will be adopted unanimously before the actual vote is taken?! And what purpose does the word even serve?

In fairness, there are a few circumstances under which the Board must make a unanimous decision, such as entering into a five-year lease for county property without a bid process, but they are few and far between.

When this matter was brought to his attention, Ada County’s Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ted Argyle indicated he would immediately have the issue addressed by changing the standardized form.

It is presumptuous to assume that this Board, or any other, will always act in unison.

It Gets Lonely Voting No...

2010-01-21T01:19:00.006-07:00

…But I will continue to do so because it is the right thing to do. For example, I voted against the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho’s Legislative agenda, which included:

“1. Transportation Revenue
The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports increasing and diversifying dedicated revenue for state and local transportation systems, including transit and alternative transportation modes…

“2. Local Option Tax Authority Legislation
The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports general local option sales tax authority legislation. Such a tool will provide local units of government the ability to request necessary supplemental infrastructure revenue from citizens through a local option sales tax…

“3. Fifth Year Funding Approval of GARVEE Bonding Program
The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports continuation of the Idaho Transportation Board’s proposed GARVEE-related project and funding package…

“4. Transportation Access Plan Legislation
The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports legislation providing a mechanism for the Idaho Transportation Department Board, in cooperation with local planning entities, to define the access control standards for a given
highway corridor…

“5. Inattentive Driving Legislation
The COMPASS Board of Directors strongly supports legislation banning or restricting text messaging and cell phone use while driving a motor vehicle. Such legislation will address inattentive drivers using electronic communication devices who present a significant safety issue for other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists….”

It seems the COMPASS Board, made up of county commissioners, city councilors and highway district commissioners from Ada and Canyon Counties, is intent upon finding new ways to raise taxes. I often find myself in the uncomfortable position of being the only Board member to vote no, because I believe it is the right thing to do, particularly in light of the current state of the economy.

I am not anti-government, and I recognize that government needs revenue in order to provide services; however, particularly during an economic crisis such as we are facing in this county, state and country today, now is not the time to figure out more ways to extract money from taxpayers. We taxpayers are better able to decide how to utilize those dollars, ourselves.

Now is the time for government to tighten its belt and feel the pain that everyone else is feeling due to the high unemployment rate and massive recession.

To clarify: I have no problem with the concept of local option taxes – the ability of local government to ask voters whether to tax themselves – for any reason, but with one caveat: local option taxing authority should be added to the constitution and require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote to pass. Why the constitution? State code is relatively easily changed during any given legislative session. Putting local option taxing authority – with the accompanying 2/3 requirement – into the constitution, will make it unlikely the supermajority voting requirement would be watered down anytime in the near future.

Why do I believe a 2/3 vote should be required? Because if government wants to stick its hand into your pockets and mine and take our money from us, then someone had better be able to make a compelling enough argument to do so to 2/3 of voters that the reason for increasing government revenue is worthwhile.

As far as item number 5 on the COMPASS agenda regarding additional inattentive driving legislation, even Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney said on Tuesday that he is opposed to the concept because we already have adequate inattentive driving laws on the books.

Legislative Action Agenda

2010-01-19T17:54:00.003-07:00

The Idaho Legislature convened at noon last Monday. There are a number of issues affecting Ada County and other Idaho residents that I hope we can get addressed this session. Some of these issues include:

• Urban Renewal Reform. While urban renewal might sound good on the surface, and was surely authorized by the legislature with the best of intention, the use of urban renewal is out of control. Urban renewal and the accompanying tax increment financing costs taxpayers, benefits the few, and has spread way beyond what I believe was its original intention as a tool to assist in the cleanup of urban blight. It’s high time for massive urban renewal law reform.

• Medical Indigency Reform. Buried in his budget proposal for FY 2010, Governor Butch Otter pushed for a $6.2 million property tax increase by proposing to increase the counties' portion of medical bill payments for people who are indigent. Counties are considered the “payer of last resort” for people who are found to be medically indigent or, in other words, unable to pay off their medical bills over a five-year period of time. Payments are made by the counties to the medical providers at the Medicaid rate. Until last year, counties were responsible for paying up to the first $10,000 for any given patient. Governor Otter pushed for a $5000 increase to a $15,000 maximum payment per patient per year, which would have amounted to a $1.25 million property tax increase for Ada County residents. The legislature compromised, settling on a maximum of $11,000 from the counties per patient per year. In addition, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is now (theoretically, since nothing is in place yet) responsible for determining Medicaid eligibility and contracting for viewing bills, determining their accuracy, determining the medical necessity of services provided and attempting to determine whether other resources are available to pay the bills. Ada County already has a process and professional staff in place to perform these services, although most other counties do not. Once the state does have this process in place, a fee will be charged back to each of the counties for this new service. Nonetheless, our property taxpayers are now footing the bill for the increased cost to the counties which would have been even higher if Governor Otter had succeeded in his efforts to increase property taxpayers’ share of these payments. I am now working with Idaho State University, the state’s health sciences university, to try to make affordable preventative clinical services available to low income clientele in an effort to get folks to take personal responsibility for their own health maintenance and avoid costly emergency room visits.

• Annexation reform. People should be able to vote before they are annexed. Otherwise, the act of annexation by a City Council and Mayor who were not elected by the affected parties, amounts to taxation without representation.

• Membership of county Planning and Zoning Commissions. While I applaud the intent of Idaho law to ensure representation from different parts of the county – inside city limits, outside city limits but within areas of city impact, and outside of both cities and areas of city impact – it is becoming increasingly difficult in Ada County to find people who live in the latter category. I would like to see the authority for determining the appropriate makeup of the Planning and Zoning Commission granted to the Boards of County Commissioners, who are ultimately responsible for all development decisions within the counties anyway.

• Property Tax Reform. A simple start to addressing this issue would be to allow county assessors to provide a single value – land and improvement value combined – rather than having to provide a breakout of the two values on assessment notices. At Board of Equalization hearings last summer, where we heard from people who felt their property values were set too high or too low, there was a significant amount of anger and confusion caused by having two separate values. It also causes unnecessary work for the appraisers, who struggle to determine fair market values, as required by law.

• Nuisance Weeds. Current Idaho law allows our Weed Department to go out and eradicate noxious weeds and bill the property owner for the service. If the property owner refuses to pay, the county is able to place a lien on the property and eventually collect. We need to have the same type of mechanism in place to address nuisance weeds, which are cropping up all over the county, particularly at abandoned houses that are in foreclosure.

• Horse Racing Regulations. Horse racing has got to be one of the most overregulated industries in the State of Idaho. Current Idaho law requires an agreement between facility operators and the Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association – and it can ONLY be with that particular group - before a live racing license will be issued by the Idaho Racing Commission. A live license is required in order to qualify for a simulcast license. Live racing loses money. Simulcast racing makes money. The requirement for a minimum of 46-days of live racing for facilities at which the handle exceeds $5 million affects only Idaho Downs, previously known as Les Bois Park, puts a stranglehold on the ability of business people to make good business decisions with regard to live horse racing in Idaho. There would be horse racing in Ada County today if an agreement with one particular horse racing owners’ group was not required, and if 46 days of live racing were no longer mandated.

These are just a smattering of issues that are in dire need of intervention by the Idaho Legislature, hopefully sooner rather than later. If you are interested in working on any of these issues with me, please contact me at sharonu@adaweb.net or 287-7001. Thank you!

Idaho Governor's Ball Musings

2010-01-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening’s Governor’s Ball, a Republican Party fundraiser, was well attended and, despite my nearly two decades of political involvement, there were a lot of newcomers in attendance. It’s always nice to see old friends, but welcoming new ones is rewarding, as well.

Of note were the many beautiful clothes, including dark suits, tuxes and ball gowns that sparkled around the festive room. It got me thinking, though, about how much money was spent on all those beautiful clothes. Perhaps in the future, the Republican Party should encourage people to shop for Governor’s Ball attire at local thrift and second-hand clothing stores, and donate the money they save to the Party or another charitable community cause. Surely the Salvation Army, Idaho Youth Ranch, Goodwill Industries, St Vincent De Paul, Deseret Industries and other charitable organizations would happily benefit from the added sales. To make things even more interesting, the Ball itself could include a “costume” contest, to determine which attendees had done the best job of securing suitable duds at a substantial savings.

Quake Effects

2010-01-11T11:09:00.000-07:00

Effects of Saturday’s earthquake off the Northern California coast seem to have made it all the way to Canyon County. On Saturday afternoon, admittedly at the last minute, I was at the shiny new Macy’s in Nampa trying to find just the right accessories to go with my outfit for that evening’s Idaho Governor’s Ball.

I was chatting on my cell phone with a friend and ended the call right around 4:27 p.m., at which time I asked the saleswoman for assistance. As we made our way through the department, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, a purse on a table several yards in front of us fell spontaneously to the floor. No one had been touching the purses or had even been in the area recently.

I made a comment to the saleswoman to the effect of, “Wow! That was odd. I hope it doesn’t mean we’re having an earthquake!” Unbeknownst to us was the fact that right then a 6.5-magnitude earthquake was occurring in the vicinity of Humboldt County, California, some 400 or more miles away. It drives home the idea that we really are all in this together. Best wishes to those affected by the quake for a quick and relatively easy cleanup and recovery.

Happy Orange and Blue Year!

2010-01-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

What a way to ring in the new year! First, our Idaho Vandals’ came through with a terrific victory in the Humanitarian Bowl, held here in Boise, followed by our hometown Boise State Broncos’ football team’s upset victory over TCU in the Fiesta Bowl! Congratulations to everyone involved with both Idaho programs. You’re a class act!
There is much to tell about what has been going on in county government, but things haven’t slowed down enough to take the time to write about it all, so here are a few of the highlights:

• We’re saving you more money. I was concerned about collect telephone call charges we were paying to the State of Idaho for the Public Defender’s Office to talk with state prison inmates. After meeting with Idaho Department of Corrections Director Brent Reinke, we have now gotten word that the county (and similar public entities) will no longer be charged these collect call fees. Savings to Ada County taxpayers will be somewhere between $650 and $900 a month.

• I now have in my possession a copy of a letter from a candidate for Vice President of Local 149 that confirms what we already knew intuitively: the fire union is behind the strong push by the Boise Fire Department to take over ambulance transport services. Our motivation is a lot different from that of the union. As our mission states, at Ada County Paramedics, we want to, “Provide an innovative, effective and efficient Emergency Medical Services System to safeguard and enhance the health and quality of life of those we serve.”

• We’re ensuring openness in government. Last week, my colleagues and I withheld approval of an agreement between Ada County and the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security for a radio system master site until we could get assurance that future meetings of the Statewide Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC) and its subcommittees would all be open and that when and if it became necessary to sign a confidentiality agreement, it would be narrowly construed. Our concerns stemmed from a December 17 meeting of the SIEC’s governance subcommittee that was unnecessarily held behind closed doors. Yesterday, I received a written commitment on these issues from Colonel Bill Shawver, the Director of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security. He wrote, in part, “You have my word that all meetings will be in accordance with all applicable laws and policy. Openness is vital to public trust and the creditability (sic) of the agencies and bodies administering government services.”

The new year is off to a terrific start for local football fans and Ada County taxpayers alike. Let’s hope we score a victory in economic recovery for Idaho residents in 2010 as well.

They're Serious

2009-12-28T12:33:00.002-07:00

Today I learned that Idaho Entertainment has made its $75,000 annual 2010 lease payment to the County for the use of the horse racing facilities and Turf Club on the Expo Idaho fairgrounds.

Hopefully, an agreement will soon be reached between Idaho Entertainment and the race horse owners so racing can be resumed in 2010. If it is not, I expect Idaho Entertainment will find other uses for the facility, as allowed under the contract they signed with the County back in July of 2009.

Protecting People by Preventing Parking Problems

2009-12-15T04:37:00.005-07:00

One of the most rewarding aspects of this position is being able to fix things in the county that are broken. This past Wednesday night, one such fix came to fruition.

Having moved into a local apartment complex in 2007, I soon discovered that parking for the large complex – one space per apartment and no guest parking – was grossly inadequate.

Every apartment in the complex has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, so tenants include large families, extended families, and groups of adult roommates. I think it would be safe to guess that in almost all cases, there are at least two vehicles affiliated with every apartment.

The inadequate provision of parking at the complex results in a myriad of cars being parked along both sides of the street, directly outside. Although this street parking is legal, it is unsightly and causes safety concerns for vehicles passing between the two rows of parked cars, particularly for emergency services vehicles such as large fire engines. It also creates a hazard for all the kids who have to try to cross the street from between the many parked cars, on their way to the neighborhood elementary school.

During elections, we hear candidates talk about quality of life. Adequate parking for apartment complexes, as well as for commercial uses, directly impacts our quality of life. Our community as a whole is better off if adequate parking is provided when new facilities are constructed.

Last Wednesday evening, my colleagues and I voted to increase parking requirements for residential and commercial development within unincorporated Ada County. Not only are the county’s requirements now more in line with what the cities within Ada County require, but the public is better served, kids are safer and our quality of life is protected.

Changes Will Save $Millions for Drivers

2009-12-11T15:50:00.008-07:00

On Wednesday, the Ada County Air Quality Board voted 5-to-4 in favor of reducing the frequency of required emissions testing to every other year starting January 1, 2010. The adopted change also exempts vehicles that are four years old and newer, and exempts pre-1982-model-year vehicles. I have been advocating for similar changes to be made to the program since at least 2001 and view these program changes as a huge victory for taxpayers.

Unfortunately, the same board voted 8-to-1 to raise the maximum allowable charge for the same test from $15 to $20. I cast the lone dissenting vote. Even with the potential of the increased cost, vehicle owners in Ada County will save more than $1.6 million a year.

We also voted to raise the cap from $200 to $300 on how much one can be asked to pay to fix a vehicle to bring it into compliance before being granted a “repair waiver.” I voted with the group on this motion after being reassured that there is also a hardship exemption available for people who cannot afford to pay for repairs to bring their cars into compliance with emissions testing standards.

I also asked about a waiver for people who drive their vehicles less than some established minimum number of miles each year, a concept which I fully support; however, by consensus, the group decided to leave such waiver decisions up to the discretion of Air Quality Board Executive Director Dennis Turner, who can be reached at 377-9191.

Please keep in mind that whether the maximum allowable emissions testing fee is $15 or $20, it is not necessary to pay that much to get one’s vehicle tested in Ada County. I have seen some testing sites that are currently charging $10 for the test. You can shop around and save money.

Air Quality Board

2009-11-23T16:45:00.010-07:00

We can probably all agree that we want clean air to breathe. How we achieve this worthy goal is subject to some difference of opinion, however.

On November 12, the Ada County Air Quality Board held a public hearing for the purpose of soliciting input on a proposal to change the vehicle emissions testing program.

Since my first term in office in 2001 and 2002, when I served my first stint on the Air Quality Board, I have been advocating we change the testing requirements to every other year and exempt new vehicles. According to information presented at Air Quality Board meetings, scientific studies have shown that reducing the frequency of tests will not have a significant adverse impact on our air quality. The same can be said for eliminating tests on new vehicles for the first four to five years, since they are not primary contributors to our periodic air quality problems.

Another proposed change to the Air Quality Board’s program that was discussed at the public hearing is to exempt vehicles that pre-date 1981. Right now, vehicles with model years that pre-date 1965 are exempt from testing requirements. The reasoning behind this “older car” exemption is twofold. First, relatively few of these vehicles remain on our roads but, more importantly, the emissions standards for them are not particularly strict so bringing them into compliance with those standards does not significantly improve our air quality.

As is often the case, this is a good news/bad news story. The good news is that the Air Quality Board is committed to decreasing the frequency of required testing. In other good news, Ada County air quality standards are currently being met. The bad news is that even as the frequency of required testing is being decreased, the maximum per test charge will likely be increased, over my objection, from $15 to $20.

Although $20 every other year is a decrease in price over $15 once a year on an annualized basis, for someone on a fixed income it is still a good chunk of money out of pocket all at one time.
In other bad news, it appears that some of the private owners and operators of the red vans and emission testing equipment, who have been our partners in this program for many years now, will end up being driven out of business by the program changes since their customer base will be cut by more than 50 percent.

This story might soon get even worse for these folks but a little rosier for vehicle owners. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is putting together a Request For Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from operators who are interested in implementing an emissions testing program in Canyon County. They are writing the RFP to provide for two possible alternatives: a Canyon County program or a consolidated Canyon and Ada County program.

The RFP will solicit proposals nationally, which could result in a program much like the one we currently have in Ada County with numerous testing sites spread out throughout the counties. If so, and all of these sites are owned by one operator, the cost to the public would likely be significantly reduced due to the economy of scale and the owner’s guaranteed customer base.

The RFP could also result in a different kind of testing program altogether, such as remote sensing, which would test vehicles as they are driven past specialized testing equipment. I would very much like to see a remote sensing emissions testing program, that would test all vehicles regardless of the residency of their owners, replace the individual testing program already in place.

On behalf of vehicle owners, I will continue to advocate for lower fees and less inconvenience in Ada County’s emissions testing program.

ACHD Commissioner Sara Baker Has a Different Take

2009-11-20T13:14:00.003-07:00

Today, I received a letter from Ada County Highway District Commissioner Sara Baker that distances her from the letter I recently received from the ACHD Commission.

Click here to see Commissioner Baker's letter.

Shining Light on Wasteful Spending Invokes Reaction

2009-11-17T16:52:00.004-07:00

In my October 29 piece, “Say It Ain’t So, ACHD!” I accurately reported what took place at an October 21 meeting of the Valley Regional Transit’s Performance and Planning Committee meeting where I was flabbergasted to hear that ACHD was supposedly requiring a $400 per bus bench review for A.D.A. compliance. In that meeting, I asked repeatedly whether the $400 per bench expenditure was really being required by ACHD and was assured that it was.

My blog post was not intended to be an in-depth investigative report. It was intended to shine light on the situation publicly, quickly, in an effort to prevent this kind of wasteful spending.

Today, eighteen days after my original blog post, I received a hand-delivered three-page response from ACHD, with multiple attachments, which appears to be their way of trying to say it ain’t so:

Click here to see ACHD's response.

The bottom line is that spending $400 per bench for a review is a horrendous waste of taxpayer dollars. In these difficult economic times, none of us can afford this type of wasteful government spending. Let’s hope VRT and ACHD staff members get their heads back together to figure out a more taxpayer-friendly, common sense solution.

Lotsa Luck

2009-11-13T15:53:00.004-07:00

It’s going to take a little more luck and a lot more action to get the situation at Idaho Downs (formerly known as Les Bois Park) resolved.

Yesterday, I attended a meeting of the Idaho State Racing Commission, the group that oversees live and simulcast horse racing in the state. To say the least, I am disappointed.

Representatives of the Horsemen’s Benevolence & Protective Association (HBPA) and Idaho Entertainment, the company that holds the lease to operate the county-owned track, are at an impasse. There seems to be fault on both sides for the breakdown in communication and failure to achieve a reasonable compromise.

Herein lies the problem: legally, Idaho Entertainment must have a signed agreement with the HBPA in order to qualify to obtain the live horse racing license from the Idaho Racing Commission. The live racing license is needed in order to qualify for the simulcast license but live racing is a money loser. The simulcast racing provides necessary revenue to support purses, the Idaho Racing Commission, and operation of the facility.

Someone needs to step up and offer to mediate an agreement between the two sides. Ideally, that would be a member of the Idaho Racing Commission, but alas that apparently has not happened.

In the interest of facilitating better communication and resolving the differences between the two sides, I would be willing to attempt to facilitate communication so an agreement can be reached and racing can resume again as soon as possible.

Turning the Tables on the Media

2009-11-07T21:21:00.002-07:00

Shortly before noon today, I headed over to the U.S. Bank building where members of the Idaho Press Club were meeting. Idaho Senator Dean Cameron, Representative Scott Bedke and former candidate for Idaho’s First Congressional District Andy Hedden-Nicely and I had all been invited to serve on a panel called “The Other Side of the Microphone” to discuss our “experiences as the source, or focus, of the news in Idaho.”

I had to admit I have been waiting a long time to have the opportunity to “turn the tables” a little bit on the media. That said, attendees were a diverse and delightful group including students, public information officers and numerous reporters, some with a number of years of experience.

Rumor had it that the discussion was all “Off the record” but those of us who have been covered by the media for any length of time recognize that there really is no such thing.

My main points and pleas were for those who report the news to ensure the accuracy of what they are passing on to the public. I also pointed out that the people in the room with the most power were not those of us on the elected officials’ side of the table but, rather, those who are members of the media.

A reporter asked just before this session how one holds “the powerful” (by which she meant elected officials) accountable – a worthy goal – and I threw the concept right back: how does the public hold the media accountable for doing their homework and telling the real story, the whole story, in a forthright and unbiased manner?

One of the other pet peeves I mentioned is “selective” journalism. For example, some members of the media are loathe to report the answers to their questions when their digging uncovers only good news.

For me, the bottom line is that a good reporter will make every effort to attend for themselves any meetings relevant to their subject matter, will do their own digging for facts, and then will double check those facts before anything is ever printed or reported to the public.

Spokesman Review reporter Betsy Russell asked us which question we are not usually asked but would like to be asked. My response was, “Do I have this right?”

One reason I am writing this blog is to ensure that members of the public have a source of information that presents factual information about what is going on in Ada County government. I admittedly throw in the occasional issue from other levels of government and an opinion or two or three, but then, it’s nice to be writer, editor (with a lot of help from some good friends) and publisher of my own little slice of Idaho news.

Honoring Our Veterans

2009-11-07T21:18:00.002-07:00

Although I have ridden in a downtown Boise parade in the Boise Tour Train (the old tourist attraction, not the $65 million in-ground-track boondoggle) it was different being in my “own” vehicle for today’s Veterans’ Day Parade.

I was chauffeured by Johnny Leedy in what he says is the fastest car in the Valley Corvette Club. My name and position were emblazoned on signs hanging from both sides of the bright shiny red sports car.

I was admittedly somewhat apprehensive about the event because it seemed weird to me to put elected officials in beautiful cars to promenade in front of those we are in office to serve, particularly when the purpose of the parade was to recognize and honor all those who have served our country in the various branches of the military.

As it turned out, it was a worthwhile and rewarding experience. Johnny proved to be a delightful escort throughout the duration of the parade, and the words of encouragement from numerous onlookers for the job I am doing were sincerely appreciated. Please remember to also pass along words of thanks and encouragement to all of our veterans.

Hometown Heroes – Take Two

2009-11-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

A couple of Ada County’s finest - Ada County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Olson and Sergeant Joe Wright – both ran into a burning building in order to save the man and woman inside. They performed CPR on the elderly woman until paramedics (those would be from Ada County as well) could take over her care.

They’d probably both say, “Aw shucks, it’s all in a day’s work,” but these two law enforcement officers went a little further than most of us are called upon to do: they risked their own lives in order to save the lives of others. Way to go Deputy Olson and Sergeant Wright! We’re proud of you!

When you see your local law enforcement officer out on patrol, or the fire folks out doing their grocery shopping, or an ambulance crew heading home from the hospital after a call, be sure you smile and wave or say, “Hi!” so they will know you appreciate their service to our community. Who knows? The next life they save might just be your own!

Hometown Heroes!

2009-10-30T17:47:00.001-06:00

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of being in the group of Ada County Paramedics and friends who welcomed home one of our local heroes, Chris Ehrman.

Chris was hired by Ada County in 2004, where he is currently a Paramedic and Field Training Officer. He has worked on the Special Operations Team and is also a huge support to the Ada County Paramedics’ Education Department.

Chris was sent to Twentynine Palms, California last fall and in March was shipped off to Iraq, where he served as a Navy Corpsman attached to a Marine battalion. He and his wife Brande have three children, and have been married for two-and-a-half years. They were anxiously awaiting his arrival and we are all glad he made it back home safe and sound.

I am always appreciative of the emergency services workers in our community, whether paramedics, fire fighters, police officers or dispatchers. Chris took his public service commitment to a higher level. Veterans Day is right around the corner. Be sure to find a vet, like Chris, and say, “Thank you!”

Say It Ain't So, ACHD!

2009-10-29T16:04:00.000-06:00

At the October 21 meeting of the Valley Regional Transit’s System Performance and Planning Committee, of which I am a member, a VRT staff member brought to our attention the demand of Ada County Highway District (ACHD) attorney Steve Price to shell out $400 per bus stop bench to have the benches and their access audited for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ACHD apparently has some level of authority in the situation because the benches will be placed in their right-of-way.

I want the bus stops and benches to be accessible and ADA compliant, but paying $400 per bench to have them reviewed is outrageous. As I pointed out at the meeting, it is stories like this one that give government a bad name.

Upon further investigation, I confirmed with three individuals who advocate for the rights of people with disabilities – Kelly Buckland, who is now the Executive Director of the National Council of Independent Living, Todd DeVries, Executive Director of the Idaho State Independent Living Council, and Bobbi Ball, Director of the ADA Task Force – that the $400 per bench price tag was ludicrous. All three said they would gladly perform the task for $400 per bench but that the cost should be significantly lower.

It’s time for common sense to play a bigger factor in government decision making. I will continue to advocate for a more cost-effective process for ensuring that all of VRT’s bus stops and benches are ADA compliant and accessible.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2009-10-27T15:36:00.000-06:00

I haven’t posted anything on here for a little while because things have been busy; however, there are numerous issues to address. I hope to get something written up and posted soon about:

• Proposed changes to the Air Quality Board’s Rules and Regulations.
• How we saved a Million Dollars at the Landfill.
• Changes being made to the county’s contract review process, particularly with regard to maintenance and service agreements, to save money for taxpayers. Thus far, just asking a few questions has saved county taxpayers over $600.
• The absurd demand by ACHD’s attorney for Valley Regional Transit to spend $400 per bus bench to have them reviewed for ADA compliance. I want ADA compliant bus stops but there must be a better, more efficient, less costly way.
• Ways in which the county might be able to facilitate the provision of preventative health services in order to cut the $3.4 million property tax burden on Ada County residents.
• The point of the ACHD plaque issue – one of openness in government decision-making – being lost in the media melee and why I asked in 2001 that my name NOT be added to the plaque on the new courthouse due to my objections about the unconstitutional financing arrangements. Multiple problems have plagued the courthouse project since that time.

YOU'RE THE BOSS!

2009-10-16T17:24:00.001-06:00

TO THE 408,000 PEOPLE OF ADA COUNTY ~ HAPPY BOSSES' DAY! I APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU!