County

This category contains 416 posts

Ada Spent $15,000 To Collect $10,000

A report from Ada County Treasurer to the Commishes Tuesday confirms the county lost nearly $15,000 in property tax revenue when officials excused back property taxes on the Red Hawk subdivision north of Hidden Springs. Since the county now owns the land they would actually be taking money of of one public pocket and putting [...]

County Amps Up The Voltage On Dynamis Deal

When Ada Commishes Sharon Ullman and Rick Yzaguirre approved a last minute extension to the Dynamis “franchise agreement” at the landfill, they added “significant value” to the deal according to a GUARDIAN financial consultant. It appears the lease has jumped from 5 years to 30 years. Additionally, the contract now allows Dynamis to bring in [...]

County Attempts Cover Up On Questionable Land Deal

Ada County officials are squirming over the recent purchase of land without an appraisal mandated by Idaho law. The GUARDIAN has confirmed that neither elected Assessor Bob McQuade nor his chief deputy, Tim Tallman, were consulted about the so-called appraisal and no one with a commercial appraisal license ever supervised the appraisal as claimed in [...]

Ada Republicans Eat Their Young

Ada County’s Republican Central Committee–fresh off the first ever closed primary election–snubbed their newly elected County Commish candidate, making him a third rate choice to fill the vacant seat created by Vern Bisterfeldt’s resignation. Gotta admit it is entertaining to watch the dominant political party in the state eat its young and disrespect its elders. [...]

County Land Purchase Violated Idaho Law

Public records obtained by the GUARDIAN indicate the Ada County purchase of a foothills subdivision May 8 was contrary to Idaho Code 31-807 which mandates an appraisal by a LICENSED appraiser must be made prior to purchase. The applicable law states: “…but no purchase of real property must be made unless the value of the [...]

Ullman Ousted, Case In Line For Appointment

Ada Commish Sharon Ullman self destructed in the primary election, paving the the way for Gov. Butch Otter to appoint Dave Case to fill the remaining six months of the seat vacated by Vern Bisterfeldt. Case garnered 11,471 votes to Ullman’s 9833 for a 54-46% victory. The Ada County Republican Central Committee meets Thursday to [...]

County Outbids Citizen For Land

Jeff Wood lives in Hidden Springs and for years has dreamed of building his “dream home” atop a rugged bluff north of his current residence. He contacted the owner, only to learn the property was in the midst of a legal battle and subsequent foreclosure action. He followed the land dealings through the legal process [...]

Ada County Buys Foreclosed Subdivision

First it was the Idaho Land Board purchasing a private storage business, now Ada County Commishes bought a foreclosed subdivision on 250 acres north of Hidden Springs and east of Highway 55 for $240,000. Known as Red Hawk Estates, the development fell on hard times and was foreclosed by Bank of The Cascades from Dry [...]

Politico Takes Dynamis And Beer Seller Payments

Looks like freshman Congressman Raul Labrador has taken money from Lloyd Mahaffey, the controversial CEO of Dynamis. Interesting to note back taxes in Boise County go unpaid while political payments are made. Betsy Russell of the SPOKESMAN-Review lists Mahaffey as a contributor to Labrador–who happens to live in Eagle where Dynamis is based–to the the [...]

Sparks Fly As Dynamis Deal Short Circuits

Several interesting developments today in the saga of Dynamis Energy’s proposed waste-to-energy project at the Ada County landfill. Commissioner Sharon Ullman has publicly claimed Ada County spent $2 million for design plans for the waste-to-energy facility and the money will be repaid once construction begins or is approved. Today after long consideration the GUARDIAN has [...]

Ullman Sits On Bench During Candidate Game

It was game night Thursday for Ada County Commission candidates, but Sharon Ullman–the only incumbent on the team–remained on the bench. Residents in Northwest Boise held a candidate forum at River Glen Jr. High to discuss the issues surrounding the proposed Dynamis trash-to-energy project at the Ada County land fill. Seven candidates discussed the issue [...]

Dynamis Looks Like “Garbage In, Garbage Out”

The DAILY PAPER posted a well done summary Thursday of the various short circuits experienced by an Eagle firm seeking to build a “waste-to-energy” facility at the county dump. Cynthia Sewell– publicly cited by Commish Sharon Ullman for her award winning reporting on the issue–told readers Dynamis and its CEO, Lloyd Mahaffey have refused to [...]

Yet Another Commish Candidate Forum

We offer the following announcement for a meeting that may be a rehash of last Thursdays event regarding the Trash-to-Energy project. Here are the details from landfill neighbors: Please attend the town hall meeting with the Ada County Commissioner candidates. All candidates have been invited. Six candidates have confirmed attendance. Come meet the candidates. The [...]

Candidate Talks Trash Over Dynamis Plan

Dave Case is a Repub running against Sharon Ullman for Ada County Commish. He sent the following guest opinion unsolicited to the GUARDIAN. We have contacted Sharon Ullman and expect her response soon. By Dave Case Ada Commission Candidate It has been almost a month now since the Idaho Statesman ran its last story on [...]

Skeptics Take Dim View Of Dynamis Power Plant

While the GUARDIAN has always been skeptical about the proposed “trash to energy” project at the county dump, more folks are jumping on the trash truck seeking to short circuit the plan. A Thursday meeting called by residents in the Hidden Springs area adjacent to the landfill was attended by Ada Commish candidates and reps [...]

West Neighborhood Hosts Candidate Forum

The West Boise Neighborhood Association is hosting a candidate forum–which will be more of a “meet and greet,” but still a good effort on their part. Date is Wednesday May 2nd at 7:00 PM at Library! Cole and Ustick Here is what they say about the event: We are inviting candidates from contested primaries in [...]

Early Voting Starts Monday In Ada

Rather than try to interpret the rules, we are posting the entire contents of a press release from Ada County Chief Election Officer Chris Rich. Early voting in Ada County will begin: · Monday, April 30, 2012 and will continue through Friday, May 11, 2012 · Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm · Monday [...]

Republicans Hijack Primary Election At High Cost

When U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill ruled that Republicans had a right to determine their candidates at at closed primary election, few people understood the ramifications of that decision. The net result is massive confusion about who can vote for what or whom. Also we predict many voters will be so overwhelmed they will simply [...]

Bisterdeldt Resigns– “I Just Can’t Answer The Bell”

After 53 years punching it out in the public service ring, Ada Commish Vern Bisterfeldt told the GUARDIAN Saturday, “I just can’t answer the bell anymore.” Known to almost everyone as just “Vern,” the 74-year-old former copper, city councilor, and county commish has resigned his post (we hear effective May 4). He has undergone two [...]

AG Needs Permanent Canyon Corruption Office

Idaho’s Attorney General seems to have enough criminal business among Canyon County staffers to open a branch office in Caldwell. A “clean sweep” revealed problems even with the janitor. Our recent memory includes the former prosecutor embezzlement case, another former prosecutor’s son with kiddie porn, a pair of DMV clerks making off with nearly three [...]

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