Mayor Elect of Kuna Billed $36k For Water/Sewer Hookups

THE GUARDIAN read with interest a story in the Idaho Statesman about Mayor Elect Greg Nelson's plans for the fair City of Kuna.  Here's a link to the Statesman story in yesterdays paper, Link:
New Mayor wants to make peace . 

Mayor Elect Nelson came across as someone who is a "can't we all just get along" kind of a guy with everyone and every thing save the Kuna Planning and Zoning folks.  All the love from Mayor Elect Nelson was not to be regarding Kuna's Planning and Zoning Director, Steven Hasson.

The animosity Nelson expressed toward Kuna's Director of Planning and Zoning seemed out of character.  THE GUARDIAN filed a public records request and the short version of all this is:  Mr. Nelson is alleged to have not paid $36K for water and sewer hook-up fees for the Creekside Lounge and Peregrine Steaks and Spirits Restaurant built in 2005/06.

Mr. Nelson received notification of  no record of payment for water and sewer hook-up fees for the total amount assigned to the project from Mr. Hasson in March of this year.

Lack of payment/verification was caught as part of an Idaho Department of Quality (IDEQ) audit for water and sewer fees cities turn in to DEQ.

  Mr. Hasson and his staff turned up no record of payment for a total of 10 EDU's (equivalent domestic units of water and sewer usage) attached to Mr. Nelson's project at the time building permits were issued.  Nor could Kuna City Officials find any record Mr. Nelson's project was exempted from the fees.

 Mr. Hasson sent Mayor Elect Nelson a billing letter for $36,000.00 owed to the City of Kuna (ie. Taxpayers). Mr. Hasson has asked for any reasonable record the fees had been paid by Mr. Nelson to help clear up this matter.

It will be interesting to see how all this unfolds.

Nampa Has No Contract With White-Peterson

THE GUARDIAN filed a public records request with the City of Nampa regrading legal fees paid the White-Peterson Law Offices of Nampa.  Also, No formal contract exists between Nampa and W-P, they are "appointed" by Mayor Dale and confirmed by the Nampa City Council.

A records request for the last three years was filed and here is what we learned.


Legal fees for FY:  08/09 were $423,820.32


                                09/10 were $519,517.26


                                10/11 to date are $679,733.17


A comment in the post below piqued the interest in this subject and the above are the totals I received Nampa.  Also of note the City of Nampa budgets $1 Million each year for legal fees.  This came from budget numbers in the IPT legal advertisements.

Clouds Gather Over Nampa Stormwater Utility Fees

The following is a summary of a court action filed against the City of Nampa over their Stormwater Utility Fees:

Republic Storage of Nampa (aka Twin Islands LLC) is seeking declaratory or injunctive relief from "Nampa Storm Water Utility" fees imposed by Ordinance 3928.  Republic is asserting the storm water fee is a tax implemented without Constitutional, State Legislative, or police power to enact. Further, Republic is citing this tax/fee as a violation of the Idaho Constitution Art. 7 sec. 5 as the tax/fee amounts to a non uniform tax on all property.  Also claimed there is no discernible service connected with the Storm Water Utility fees.

The Plaintiff, Republic Storage is seeking injunctive relief to preclude any further collections of the Storm Water Utility fees pending  litigation challenging the validity of Nampa Storm Water Utility fees.

David R. Frazier of the Boise Guardian reports there is a pending Class Action Lawsuit representing 80,000 people over the Storm Water Ordinance put together by Mayor Dale, City Councilors and his legal team.

This means Happy Holidays for the law firm representing Nampa.  They got paid for the ordinance work and now they will have two legal challenges over Storm Water fees to further line their pockets with Nampa taxpayer dollars. 

Caldwell to Pay $47K Above Low Bid For Misdemeanor Prosecutions

THE GUARDIAN learned via a public records request Caldwell intends to pay $47K more to the firm of Hamilton Michaelson Hilty, the current city attorney v. the offer extended by Canyon County Prosecutor, Brian Taylor.  The decision to go with the high bid was made in Executive Session by the Caldwell City Council.  Yesterday we noted the approval of HMH as the firm that will be doing city misdemeanor prosecutions.  It is listed as item #7 on the "Consent Calendar" for the upcoming City Council meeting.

There will be no further discussion nor any debate about the difference in cost for this service to Caldwell taxpayer's.  A motion will be made, seconded and passed.  The troubling part of all this is the fiduciary responsibility to Caldwell taxpayers and $47k difference for this service.

Mind you there will be the same numbers of misdemeanor prosecutions no matter who does the job. Felonies all go to the County Prosecutor no matter what the circumstances.  THE GUARDIAN sent emails to Mayor Nancolas, and two City Councilors voicing concerns about the lack of negotiation of costs for taxpayers.  It is OK to stay with HMH but why haven't they said the business is theirs to lose and can they meet the price proffered by Canyon County Prosecutor, Brian Taylor and save taxpayers $47K in these difficult times.

Editor note:  City of Caldwell accepted a bid of $256K from HMH on December 19th.  HMH revised their bid $41k lower than their original RFQ of $296K.

Social Security and Medicare Aren't Entitlements

 Politicos in Washington D.C. keep telling citizens Social Security and Medicare are "entitlements" and if they keep repeating this lie often enough people might start to believe it.

Fact is these are "EARNED BENEFITS".  Every working person who collects Soc. Security and Medicare had money deducted from their pay over their entire working careers.  The amount each person collects is based on how much they paid into the system.  Medicare was also deduced from each persons pay and those on Medicare pay about $100/month for straight Medicare Part B and more if they opt for an Advantage Plan with a private insurance company.

All the people now receiving their earned benefits had no choice in the matter of enrollment for these programs during their working years.  I was more than a little shocked to see how much was deducted from my pay when I got my first job.  I got $1/hour which was the minimum wage back in 1963 and was dismayed at how little was left after deductions.  I got past all that in time and accepted it as something that would  be there if I lived long enough to actually retire.

Medicare was first approved in the Kennedy Administration back in the early 1960's. The running joke at the time was if it didn't pass muster with Congress everyone needed to try and stay young.  Older people before Medicare either had the cash to pay for medical care or they simply died from neglect.

Most people end up paying Social Security and Medicare over what usually is a 40+ year working career.  When I hear Congress and the President calling Social Security and Medicare "entitlements" it really strikes me as an outright lie to people who have paid into these two "earned benefit" programs.  The root of the problem is the fat cats in Congress spent the money and are now trying to weasel out of the loans made to the government via these two non-optional programs.

Cecil and Wayne, More In Common Than You Think

We read with interest this morning, the regular Monday Opinion piece by Wayne Hoffman to day.  We also caught the November 17th, 2011 edition of Dialogue on IPTV.  It was interesting to note just how much former Gov. Cecil Andrus and Mr. Hoffman have in common.

Gov. Andrus was talking about when Hewlett Packard came to Boisenin the 1960's looking for a place to expand their operations.  Gov. Andrus was asked point blank what he was willing to do to sweeten the deal for HP.  Gov. Andrus didn't bat an eye in his response... NOTHING!  He said they would help expedite the permitting process and welcome HP to town but to do more would set the stage for future handouts for others wishing to locate in Idaho.  He said this point blank to David Packard.  If they got a subsidy from Idaho Taxpayers then others would want the same and HP would help pay for any government funds going to subsidize companies locating in Idaho.

Mr. Hoffman in his Op-Ed piece in the Idaho Press Tribune today is echoing the same philosophy on energy subsidies.  Wind projects all over the state get huge subsidies from taxpayers, the project is not subject to the proper levels of property taxes, receive large subsidies from the federal government for "being green".  The reality is they kill large numbers of birds, endangered bats, and eagles along with other avian life.  In addition they create a fair amount of visual blight.  There are so many of them now in Idaho they nearly carry the entire electrical loading at the minimum demand on the system.

We have yet another heavily subsidized project at the Ada County Land Fill where Dynamis Energy of Idaho has struck a deal with Idaho Power to charge IP nearly three times to going rates for electricity for 18 hours a day of power generation per the IPUC application and agreements.  Not only can this project not stand on it's own but it will receive additional subsidies from the Federal Government at taxpayer expense.

FERC (federal energy regulatory commission) has recently entered the fray forcing power companies to buy wind power at inflated prices when all the waterways are brimming with water.  Bonneville Power and it would be reasoned Idaho Power have no control over co-generation projects with the ability to use them as a supplemental source when needed.

Mr. Hoffman's position like Gov. Andrus before him is this stuff should stand on its own merits and not sink or swim via State and Federal hand outs.

here's the IPT LINK  http://www.idahopress.com/opinion/bestread/we-don-t-need-incentives-to-know-which-car-to/article_4ef96dfe-248a-11e1-b6f3-001871e3ce6c.html

Wind Power Subsidy and FERC Will Cost Rate Payers

We learn today Wind Power is not a backup but a primary energy supply when it comes to paying the piper for power.  Wind generator owners won a dispute with with Bonneville Power Administration yesterday via the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Wind generators supplying power to Bonneville Power objected to being told to shut down when the Columbia River system is brimming with abundant water supplies and had more power than the grid could manage or export. Between mid-May and June there is more hydro-electric power available and the wind power simply is not needed nor is there any market for it.

The FERC ruling yesterday was based on the fact they lost government incentives when windmills were shut down because subsidies to this industry are based on actual power output.  Actions by FERC yesterday have set the stage for wind farms to go back to BPA and other power companies and collect back compensation.

In short, it is the rate payers of all the various power companies who will be on the line to pay inflated prices for power from alternative sources even when they aren't needed.  These secondary sources have become the tail wagging the big dog power companies.  Standby for federally mandated increases in power rates courtesy of FERC.

Here's a LINK to the Statesman AP story http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/07/1908134/wind-generators-win-in-dispute.html

Another LINK to Rocky Barker of the Statesman on this subject  http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/08/rockybarker/ferc_rules_again_favor_northwest_wind_power_devlopers#ixzz1fxy2L8ON

Idaho Power Gets 4% Rate Increase Jan. 1st

Settlement would increase Idaho Power rates by 4 percent

Rate case hearings set in American Falls, Gooding and Boise

Parties to an Idaho Power Company rate case have reached a settlement that, if approved, would increase rates an average 4 percent, down from the nearly 10 percent requested by the company when it filed its application June 1. 

The proposed settlement must be approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, which has scheduled public hearings in American Falls on Nov. 3, in Gooding on Nov. 9 and in Boise on Dec. 5. 

The proposed settlement would allow Idaho Power an annual revenue requirement increase of $34 million. The utility originally sought $83 million, or an average overall rate increase of 9.9 percent. 

Included in the proposed average 4 percent increase is an increase in the monthly service charge from $4 to $5 per month.  The new rates, if approved, would become effective Jan. 1.  The parties are proposing a 7.86 percent rate of return. The company sought 8.17 percent. 

Parties signing the settlement include commission staff, the Idaho Irrigation Pumpers Association, the Industrial Customers of Idaho Power, the Department of Energy, Micron Technology, the Idaho Conservation League, the Snake River Alliance, the Northwest Energy Coalition and Hoku Materials. The Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho, which represents customers on low- and fixed-incomes, participated in the settlement discussions but not sign largely because Idaho Power has not agreed to increase its funding for a low-income weatherization program.  

The signing parties agreed to defer and amortize over four years a nearly $300,000 expense for a turbine inspection. They also propose to defer $436,000 for a Light Detection and Ranging survey and amortize that over 10 years. That deferral and amortization mitigate the size of rate increases for customers. 

Some issues were not resolved and will be argued during the Dec. 5 technical hearing while others will be handled separately in other cases. 

Issues to be argued during the technical hearing include the amount of funding that Idaho Power should provide for a low-income weatherization program; the surcharge level for the Energy Efficiency Rider (now set at 4.75 percent of billed rates) and the method used to calculate facilities charges for large commercial and industrial customers. 

The issues to be handled separately include the amount paid by parties requesting a line extension and whether the annual pilot Fixed Cost Adjustment (FCA) mechanism should be made permanent. 

The commission will conduct three public hearings, giving customers an opportunity to testify regarding the proposed settlement. Those hearings will be:

·       Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Power County Courthouse Annex, 500 Pocatello Ave., in American Falls.

·       Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at the Gooding County Planning and Zoning Building, 145 Seventh Ave. East in Gooding. 

·       Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at the commission hearing room, 472 W. Washington St. in Boise. 

The technical hearing will also be Dec. 5 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the commission hearing room. 

The commission cannot, by state law, arbitrarily refuse to consider utility rate increase requests without first considering the evidence presented by the utility, intervening parties and customers. The burden of proof is on the utility to justify the expenses it seeks to recover through rates as 1) necessary to serve customers and 2) prudently incurred.  The commission may accept, reject or modify the company’s request.  All commission decisions can be appealed to the state Supreme Court by the utility, intervenors or customers. 

Continued growth in demand for electricity, aging infrastructure and higher compliance and reliability requirements are the driving factors behind the rate increase request, according to the company’s application.    

Idaho Power claims it has made significant investment in pollution control equipment in four units and upgraded a turbine in one unit of the Jim Bridger power plant, a coal-fired facility in southwest Wyoming.  The company plans additional investment at its Valmy coal plant in Nevada this year. Idaho Power also completed construction of a new 500-kilovot Hemingway transmission station and the associated Hemingway to Bowmont 230-kV transmission line at a total cost of $54 million.  The company also completed construction of the Long Valley Operations Center in Lake Ford to replace the existing McCall Operations Center. 

The company’s application further states that the cost of building materials has increased dramatically since the last time the company was granted a general rate increase in 2009.  In that two-year period, the company claims aluminum costs have increased 59 percent; copper, 104 percent and standard plate steel, 83 percent. 

To mitigate the size of the increase, Idaho Power says it is not including nearly $32 million in power supply expenses and also is not asking for construction expenses related to the Hells Canyon relicensing project.  While not collecting the expenses now will impact cash flow, it will not affect the company’s earnings or perception of the company’s financial health in the markets, according to Greg Said, vice president for regulatory affairs. 

Idaho Power serves nearly 500,000 customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. 

Customers can track the case on the commission’s Web site, www.puc.idaho.gov., where the company’s application, including testimony from company officials and intervening parties as well as customer comments are posted. Click on the electric icon, then on “Open Electric Cases,” and scroll down to Case No. IPC-E-11-08. 

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AARP Urges PUC To Nix Idaho Power Rate Hike

URGES PUC TO SAY “NO WAY” TO IDAHO POWER’S $83 MILLION RATE HIKE

Last Public Hearing on Rate Hike Tonight – If Approved Will Mean $90 Million in Hikes for Idahoans as Many Struggle to Pay for the Basics

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Power reported record earnings last quarter, raking in roughly $40 million more than the prior quarter.  But that hasn’t stopped the state’s largest utility company from seeking to hit consumers with even higher energy bills – to the tune of $83 million in rate hikes plus $6 million more in customer service charge increases.  AARP Idaho says enough is enough and is urging the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to deny the rate hike request.

Tonight will be the last chance for the public to make their voices heard before PUC as the commission wraps up public hearings on the rate hike request.  The final public hearing will be held in Boise at 7pm in the PUC building, 472 W. Washington St. in Boise, in the commission hearing room.  AARP is encouraging Idaho Power customers to make their voices heard in opposition to the rate hike.  

“These rate hikes are a bad idea in a good economy, in today’s economy they are a horrible idea that will wreak havoc on some households already struggling to get by.  Idaho Power sure isn’t struggling, so why should consumers be forced to?” said Lynn Young, a member of AARP Idaho’s Executive Council.  “Older Idahoans already have to strike a delicate balance between affording their utility bills and paying for the basics like health care, rising prescription drug, grocery and gas costs – AARP stands in strong opposition to this rate hike.”

The Idaho Power rate hike would send most residential consumers’ bills skyrocketing by nearly 9%, in addition to a $1 a month increase in customer’s service change (bringing in an additional roughly $500,000 a month to the company – or $6 million a year).  A non-binding settlement agreement between the company and the interveners (none representing residential consumers) in the rate hike case, currently before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC), still calls for $34 million in rate hikes, hitting the typical residential consumer with a 4.19% higher monthly energy bill.

“This rate hike request and the non-binding, closed door deal cut by those who  had the money to be at the table, further lays out a clear need for Idaho to create a utility consumer advocate office to make sure people have their voice and views heard,” added Young.  “At a time when so many of the state’s older residents are having trouble paying their current utility bills, to hit them with a hike in their utility bills is unthinkable.”

Idaho is the only state in the West lacking a utility consumer advocate office to represent residential consumers and small businesses such as farms in rate cases and other regulatory issues before the PUC and the courts.  AARP stands in strong support of the creation of an advocate office and is currently urging its inclusion in Idaho’s draft Energy Plan which is being updated. 

According to an AARP survey released earlier this year, over 40% of Idahoans 50 and older reported already having difficulty affording their utility bills.  In many cases, older consumers are already forced to make hard choices between turning up the thermostat and filling a prescription – higher utility bills could see more of the state’s elderly struggling to afford the basics.

“All of Idaho’s major utility companies are back at the trough this year seeking to hike customer’s utility bills at a time when most can least afford it,” added Young.  “The most important voice in the debate over more utility rate hikes in Idaho should be the public’s but too often they are left out of the equation or underrepresented; we’re working to help them raise that voice.”

Here's a link to respond the IPUC http://www.puc.idaho.gov/forms/ipuc1/ipuc.html

Ada Landfill Energy Project Will Burn "Tyres"

We learn from a English publication the marvels of the TRASH TO ENERGY project  at the Ada County Landfill "tyres" will be a fuel stock for this project. Dynamis Energy, Ada County and Idaho Power will present their case to the IPUC in the near term via case #IPC-E-11-25.

U.S: Gasification comes to Idaho

Idaho based waste gasification specialist, Waste Dynamis Energy is to design, build and operate a $60 million facility to convert MSW and waste tyres into electricity at Ada County's Hidden Hollow Landfill in Idaho.

According to the company, the agreement will see landfill property leased from the county for $1 a year for 20 years and will build a gasification plant capable of disposing of 250 tons (227 tonnes) of municipal waste, tyres and other types of solid waste per day.  

We can only wonder about the "variances" and other schemes around clean air emissions Idaho DEQ will entertain in the name of progress.  Between controlled burns, naturally occurring wildfires and just plain old pollution from vehicles and stationary sources in the valley how much worse the air quality will suffer in this valley when this project comes on line in 2014.

 Here's a link for more info..  http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/5341521639/articles/waste-management-world/volume-12/issue-6/regulars/news/new-uk-association-to-help-partner-recycling-and-reprocessing-sectors.html