ED NOTE–We will interpret that as a vote for the idea. We really don’t want to get into a candidate for and against or letter writing campaigns etc. Glad to discuss views, but the GUARDIAN really needs to refrain from taking positions on candidates.

Max said, “Someone needs to file a lawsuit to force them to personally pay the money back!!” Actually, several of us have thought of that before. The commissioners should be paying for this legal exercise out of their own pockets rather than out of ours. They are not doing this on our behalf, but on their own.

At the commissioners’ March 24 news conference, Fred Tilman explained that the commissioners are entitled to a taxpayer-paid legal defense for all of the many decisions they make on a regular basis. I disagree. The Commission, or rather the entity of Ada County which the Commission represents, IS entitled to a legal defense at the expense of the taxpayers for all acts legally committed by the commissioners, such as making a decision about a subdivision. Nevertheless, that fact does not mean that the commissioners, as individuals, are entitled to a taxpayer-paid legal defense for illegal acts they have committed while doing their jobs.

For example, if a commissioner were accused of stealing the County’s stash of petty cash, s/he would obviously be expected to pay for his/her own attorney and legal defense. The Open Meeting Law violation is exactly the same, but in this case, all three commissioners were caught committing the civil violation. Therefore, all three commissioners should be required to pay all of the legal fees, including those of the AG’s office, out of the $85,000 + annual salaries they have set for themselves.

ED NOTE–Sharon Ullman is a candidate for Ada County Commission.

For example, Mr. Furey may claim to be pro bono on his appeal for “clarification,” but an appeal means the Idaho Attorney General will have to pay the salaries of state attorneys to present the state’s side – what’s that going to cost us? We taxpayers also pay for the judges. I rather like the Idaho Statesman editorial suggestion that General Wasden bill the Ada Commissioners for what it has cost us so far.

Guardian did a good job tracking this lawsuit the past few months. In fact, it seems the Commissioner’s story keeps changing just what they talked about with Vern. Last Friday Peavy was wearing the conviction as a badge of honor because the city did end up suing the county about Avimore after all. I thought they claimed the meeting was about EMS. Tony Jones commented several months ago on this site the meeting was about Hammer Flats. Just what did they discuss?

EDITOR NOTE–Osprey, we agree with you on all counts! We were out of town and played “catch up” on the story, hence no daggers to the heart. You and our friends at the Statesman Editorial page have said it all at this point. Good Job all around.

They are not only telling the taxpayers that ” We are above the Law” but if you are stupid enough to try to make us obey the law” we’ll spend your money getting ourselves off the hook.

Local govt. is corrupt but this is the best example of the flagrant disregard of the law and of the welfare of the people of Ada County that Our County commissioner’s have shown during most of their terms in office.

They are masters at spending our money and they really don’t care – because it is not coming out of their pockets. It comes out of our pockets!

Someone needs to file a lawsuit to force them to personally pay the money back!!