We learn this week about the plan to start spending more taxpayer dollars. THE GUARDIAN broke this story a while back about CEURA sending $10.4 MM of taxpayer cash to Canyon County. Also mentioned was a new administrative building in the works. The local paper finally dug further and has done a very good job of getting Canyon Commishes on the record as well as the "plan" out to those who will be paying the bills.
Commissioners would not listen to citizens on their choice of jail projects and three bond issues have failed miserably. Instead of calling in critics of their jail efforts to participate in the process; they paid $50K for yet another consultant to give them a nicely bound document full of very nice photos, charts and diagrams.
Canyon County Commissioners will receive a revenue stream from CEURA in the amount of $1.3 MM a year for eight years when CEURA sunsets in 2014. They can do anything they wish with this revenue stream and it looks like we're headed for a shiny new county administrative office building costing taxpayers $8.9MM and not voter participation in this decision. The tone of the article appears they intend to leverage the cash flow from CEURA into and "easy pay plan" in violation of Article 8 Sec. 3 of the Idaho Constitution, rather than use a bond election or waiting until they have the cash to pay in full. The building will be 41,000 SF and will sit in the current parking lot in front of 1115 Albany St.
Step C of the plan calls for a 65,000 SF addition to the county jail. It would require demolition and removal of the $3MM recently constructed TENT structure on the corner of 12th and Chicago Streets. The TENT was put up in 2005 and our Commissioners at the time said it would last 30 years.
Commissioners have spent over $2MM for the property out on 20/26 and I-84 and an additional $1MM or so on engineering and plans for this site. They have mentioned nothing about selling this property before hopscotching to a jail next to the current courthouse. Add to this is the property owned by the Fair Board out on 20/26 and Madison area.
Public meetings are scheduled for taxpayer inputs and you can read more in the IPT article published this past Thursday. Here's a link http://www.idahopress.com/news/local/proposal-build-new-jail-next-to-canyon-county-courthouse/article_0cb3c8a0-6f2a-11e1-843b-0019bb2963f4.html
Paul.........
ReplyDeleteI see where the Commissioner’s are blaming "others" for the purchase of the land out on the corner of I-84 and Hwy 20 for the jail that they wanted to build but no body else wanted it there. Com. Ferdinand says commissioners were "snookered" by a fast talking used car salesman into buying that property, but it didn't work out because they were misinformed.
I wonder why we put these people into office if they are so inept as to not be able to determine what is a good purchase. Canyon County citizens were trying to tell them this was a bad decision.
I did not see a price tag on all of the "Improvements" they listed but it would appear the cost of what they have described as necessary for the county would not run in excess of $100,000,000 or more.
The last bond issue was for 46 million if I am not mistaken, and this capital expenditure plan is going to be a lot more than what was proposed last time. I think people are getting tired of all of the stupid proposals Commissioners are trying to force down the throats of Canyon County taxpayers.
I did not see a total cost of the new juvenile facility, or the new administrative building or the cost of a new 3 or 4 or 5 story jail to house the criminals that we are accumulating, plus the cost of all of the site work that would need to be done.
Time for a change in management this coming November......
My thoughts......... R.H.
I think the county needs more office space and if done with the best interests of taxpayers they could clean up a lot of issues with the $10.4MM from CEURA but some egos are going to suffer.
ReplyDelete1. Declare victory on the TVCC experiment and let them retreat to Ontario, Oregon and use the TVCC bldg. for County Office space. This building is 39,000 SF and would bring some activity to downtown Caldwell. It has adequate parking and easy access for County residents.
2. Use the $10.4MM from CEURA to transition the current courthouse to a Justice Center and build jail space based on inputs from citizens who have been critical of past jail efforts. It is obvious the cash from CEURA will not go to the general fund to lower taxes.
In summary, TVCC adds no value to Caldwell and is not yet paying full rent for the building, utilities and other expenses. County offices downtown in the TVCC building fills a county taxpayer need. Cash from CEURA could then be used for jail issues. This won't lower property taxes but will hold the line on the urge to splurge taxpayer dollars.
TVCC could close its doors tomorrow and they would not be missed. CWI available and already operates on taxpayer funds. The problem is some people who promoted TVCC as a "critical mass" and business catalyst for downtown are going to have to swallow hard and admit a mistake was made.
There is something in the political "either" that compels elected politicians and other public servants to build and/or expand something to show their competence, value and ego, but with taxpayer money. The idea of astutely and creatively managing what is already there is never on their radar. That being said why not forget the jail because we already have one that could be better managed. Evict TVCC or let them exercise their option to leave and promote leasing at a fair price a "College Building" to a college like CWI, a creditworthy Idaho institution that looks to be expanding and rightfully to Caldwell. Then default on the so called commitment to Canyon County. I can't see this situation being enforceable by law especially due to the incest of the ECURA board harboring a commissioner when the deal was made.
ReplyDeleteThen Canyon County could rent some of the currently vacant space in Caldwell at depression prices to relocate employees whose space is needed in the court house. I am sure who gets moved into these lesser than desirable digs would be whom is considered to be least important. That roster will be considerably different than those slated to move into a $10M+ new office building. The taxes saved might then result in lower mill levies that could encourage growth that at some point would create the need for the projects they are trying to do now.
Workout Man for Commisioner!
ReplyDeleteAll excellent comments and solutions, however none will be implemented as long as the current commies are in office. Time for a colonic flush.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me if you can. What time do the trains roll in. With the new proposed County office building every county "worker" will know just sitting in their cubicle by just watching their "Coffee Cup" or pencil etc. walk across the desk twenty times a day. A perfect recipe for bureaucratic productivity.
ReplyDeleteIts always spend more money with these clowns. NO one has detailed the need for more or different space for county employees.
VOTE against these clowns IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION where it will really count.
How could anyone come up with a plan to locate new county office space next to the railroad track? They actually paid money to someone for this effort? Next we will be paying for county employees to undergo treatment for mental issues having to work in close proximity to high speed trains and the noise from their horns. This is the nuttiest thing I have ever seen, surely they could come up with a better plan that this.
ReplyDeletePublic meetings are scheduled on this plan and comments are generally requested at these meetings. Here's the schedule:
Delete5 p.m., Monday, March 26, Nampa City Council Chambers
5 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, Caldwell Police Station
5 p.m. Monday, April 2, Wilder Ambulance Station
5 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, Melba Senior Center
My guess is there will be very light turnout. Millions of taxpayer dollars are on the line and the Commishes are making the effort to get public feedback.
It is time for more changes at both the county and city levels. Hopefully that will happen this year with the county commisioners and the Nampa city council and Mayor at the next oppurtunity.
ReplyDeleteThe school district vote that we had, especially in Nampa, Vallivue, and Middleton were precursor votes to the 2012 and 2013 elections. If these elected officials continue on with these pipe dream projects that keep raising our taxes, they are going to lose their elected positions. I'm excited that this could happen.
DeleteYes,
ReplyDeleteThey are making the effort to get the feedback so they can promptly ignore it. They have got their blinders on again everybody. There's a signpost up ahead. It reads "Caution, Dangerous Uncontrolled Spending Imminent!"
and Trolley Square still sit's empty and unused. What a nice place with plenty of space for our beloved commissioners. Cheaper than building new and plenty of parking for those open public meetings they are supposed to hold.
ReplyDeleteWhat is under Steve Rules large blue tie? Gravy srtains?
ReplyDeleteI got the photo off the county website and I do believe it is a Rainbow Trout tie pin.
DeleteI am putting a link to the Simpson Boles report published in December of 2010. "THE MOMENT OF TRUTH" it is 65 pages of how we's on the path to financial ruin as a country. The Federal Deficit has increased by 33% since 2001.
ReplyDeleteI think it mirrors a lot of voter frustration with government spending and what we need to do as a nation. We are in denial in both parties. Repubs are Borrow and Spend while Dem's are Tax and spend.
http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf
I'm making it a point this year to vote for whoever is not the incumbent this year in all offices. Why? Because I want change, and this is the only way to get it. The recent article on the sleazy methods used by some of our legislators at the state level to get a bill killed regarding property purchases by the state proves to me they have all lost sight of their real duties to us their constituents. They have put the party's interests first and have become corrupt. A full flushing is needed. Stop electing professional politicians! I am voting for normal Joe's with no no experience from now on. Heck, they can't do any worse! They might even have a set to stand up for what is right and do the right thing. Let's remind our professional politicos what happens when they screw us the voter and don't represent us as we elected them to do!
ReplyDelete