I am a firm believer in individual personal responsibility. When welfare assistance is needed, my preference is for private sector organizations such as the Salvation Army, Idaho Foodbank, and religious organizations, to provide necessary social services whenever possible. When help is needed, I still believe the best kind is a […]
Uncategorized
This community cares. On Friday, over 2300 volunteers showed up to assist in the search for young Robert Manwill, whose sudden disappearance on July 24 has touched this community deeply and moved people to action. As a county, we are involved in the search efforts through the Ada County Sheriff’s […]
Community Caring
The State of Idaho is divided into seven separate health districts. The Central District Health Department (CDHD) serves Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley Counties. We (Ada County taxpayers, to be more specific) provide funding to CDHD according to a per capita formula delineated in Idaho Code. Ada County’s contribution in […]
Public Health Update
Boise City’s Urban Renewal Agency, Capital City Development Corporation, has been involved in both the failed Ada County Courthouse financing scheme as well as the failed $136 million University Place fiasco. Idaho Code allows cities and counties to form Urban Renewal Agencies. One or more urban renewal districts are then […]
Urban Renewal Run Amuck
According to a July 23 news release, the Ada County Highway District is putting finishing touches on the $3 million Split Corridor project in Meridian. The purpose of this project was to change Meridian and Main Streets, between Franklin and I-84, into a one-way couplet. According to ACHD, “The project […]
Split Corridor Landscaping Costs are Considerable
Since I am now on the county side of the table and wasn’t in the audience to testify, the Ada County budget hearing was remarkably short! No one from the audience of mostly department heads and other county employees testified. Thanks in large part to Ada County Clerk Dave Navarro […]
Hearing Silence
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has successfully pushed the concept of a downtown Boise streetcar, consisting of 2.6 miles of in-ground rails, with a total project cost of about $60 million for just this first phase. He hasn’t gotten the project very far, yet, though. On Monday, members of the Community […]
$60 Million Streetcar to Nowhere!
If you are interested in the Ada County budget, your property tax bill and where your public dollars are spent, we want to hear what you think. Please join us on Tuesday, July 21 at 6 p.m. in the first floor hearing room of the Ada County Courthouse at 200 […]
Do You Have an Opinion?
I just saw today that on July 10, a southwest Idaho firefighter suffered severe burns from a gasoline explosion while fighting wildfires in Alaska. Todd Wanner is a 28-year-old member of the Idaho City Hotshot fire fighting crew. Our thoughts and prayers from Ada County to Todd for a full […]
Idaho City Hotshot Burned
Protecting public health and safety is among the most important duties of government at all levels. At the county level, that largely means emergency services. I am pleased with recent progress in promoting a cooperative working relationship between Ada County Paramedics and the various fire departments and agencies. I attend […]