The Statesman has this habit of getting only part of the story. I get the feeling they get their leads from others, (i.e., Guardian) and then call the same people at city hall every time to get “the rest of the story”. With the audit out now, some at city hall have changed their tune, but the stories being told are still just as misleading as they ever were.

Several employees at different levels and at different places were caught up in just doing their job without question. Sure, there were some that should have known better about the farm, but just didn’t and others that knew better but did nothing. One thing is for sure, while some employee’s actions may be questionable, there is not one manager that was involved in this (one way or another) that has an excuse that I can think of.

However, I seriously doubt if the city wants to pursue the farm situation anymore unless forced to. Not much has gone as smoothly as they had hoped and they’re now ready to move on, if they can. That said, now that the truth is known (which will most likely never be totally revealed) if the city chooses to do nothing, those involved in that decision will be as guilty of turning a blind eye and covering up as those that caused this mess in the first place.

Once again, I can not express the importance of an independent outside investigation. With gross mismanagement, a major cover-up and thousands of dollars involved in the process you can bet the city won’t be easily accepting anything like that to happen.

As for the former City Auditor, that one I have no knowledge of. Like most everyone I have my doubts about the reasons we were given for his departure and my thoughts as to why he hasn’t been replaced. One thing is for sure, none of what we’re being told is adding up.

– Concerned Employee

I am shocked that Skinner did not get thrown in jail over this and I sincerely hope that the house cleaning is still going on as Bisterfeldt also said.

I read the audit report that was prepared and I am wondering why the people handling the invoices at the farm were not terminated as well. The audit clearly identified the following: “All of the invoices tested bore the initials of the Senior Department Specialist at TMSF who is responsible for preparing them for payment. A number of the invoices as well as some of the general ledger descriptions, bore strong indications of improper purchasing activity.” If nothing else this specialist should have reported this activity.

Finally I suspect that the reason that the Auditor has not been replaced is because the position is not really “open” at this time. The city has a detailed and time consuming grievance procedure for employee job status changes. I bet that the “former” auditor and the city are locked in a disagreement over his job status and that is why the position has not been filled.

EDITOR NOTE–Councilors were being fed “bio solids” and they believed what they were told. The GUARDIAN provided the forum and was able to sort through the BS for the truth…everything we alleged or hinted at a year ago has been confirmed by the audit.

I am shocked that Skinner did not get thrown in jail over this and I sincerely hope that the house cleaning is still going on as Bisterfeldt also said.

I read the audit report that was prepared and I am wondering why the people handling the invoices at the farm were not terminated as well. The audit clearly identified the following: “All of the invoices tested bore the initials of the Senior Department Specialist at TMSF who is responsible for preparing them for payment. A number of the invoices as well as some of the general ledger descriptions, bore strong indications of improper purchasing activity.” If nothing else this specialist should have reported this activity.

Finally I suspect that the reason that the Auditor has not been replaced is because the position is not really “open” at this time. The city has a detailed and time consuming grievance procedure for employee job status changes. I bet that the “former” auditor and the city are locked in a disagreement over his job status and that is why the position has not been filled.

EDITOR NOTE–Councilors were being fed “bio solids” and they believed what they were told. The GUARDIAN provided the forum and was able to sort through the BS for the truth…everything we alleged or hinted at a year ago has been confirmed by the audit.

I am shocked that Skinner did not get thrown in jail over this and I sincerely hope that the house cleaning is still going on as Bisterfeldt also said.

I read the audit report that was prepared and I am wondering why the people handling the invoices at the farm were not terminated as well. The audit clearly identified the following: “All of the invoices tested bore the initials of the Senior Department Specialist at TMSF who is responsible for preparing them for payment. A number of the invoices as well as some of the general ledger descriptions, bore strong indications of improper purchasing activity.” If nothing else this specialist should have reported this activity.

Finally I suspect that the reason that the Auditor has not been replaced is because the position is not really “open” at this time. The city has a detailed and time consuming grievance procedure for employee job status changes. I bet that the “former” auditor and the city are locked in a disagreement over his job status and that is why the position has not been filled.

EDITOR NOTE–Councilors were being fed “bio solids” and they believed what they were told. The GUARDIAN provided the forum and was able to sort through the BS for the truth…everything we alleged or hinted at a year ago has been confirmed by the audit.

I am shocked that Skinner did not get thrown in jail over this and I sincerely hope that the house cleaning is still going on as Bisterfeldt also said.

I read the audit report that was prepared and I am wondering why the people handling the invoices at the farm were not terminated as well. The audit clearly identified the following: “All of the invoices tested bore the initials of the Senior Department Specialist at TMSF who is responsible for preparing them for payment. A number of the invoices as well as some of the general ledger descriptions, bore strong indications of improper purchasing activity.” If nothing else this specialist should have reported this activity.

Finally I suspect that the reason that the Auditor has not been replaced is because the position is not really “open” at this time. The city has a detailed and time consuming grievance procedure for employee job status changes. I bet that the “former” auditor and the city are locked in a disagreement over his job status and that is why the position has not been filled.

EDITOR NOTE–Councilors were being fed “bio solids” and they believed what they were told. The GUARDIAN provided the forum and was able to sort through the BS for the truth…everything we alleged or hinted at a year ago has been confirmed by the audit.

They couldn’t hang Dave Skinner for mishandling funds because of a recent ruling (law change) and because they couldn’t say that Dave was guilty of what they were accusing him of, then the city can’t be held accountable for covering it up… ????

So the city employees and tax payers were pulled through a knot and told some whopper stories by many for months on end. When the dust settled, the only losers on this one are those of us who paid for all this entertainment.

Lets not forget the city employees who poured their hearts out and took risks to get the story (truth) out there…

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry…

EDITOR NOTE– You pretty much got it. On the charges, the acts were obviously illegal, they just didn’t match the FELONY MISUSE of public funds as it got defined in the recent ruling (change). Statute of limitations precluded some charges being filed. Also, you are probably correct about “City Hall” wanting to get it over with.

Talk about a legal maneuver on the part of the city. The mayor may not of master minded this plan, but he no doubt had no problem approving it.

This is one of, if not the biggest scam jobs in Boise’s history.

EDITOR NOTE–City and prosecutors did a “fair” job on prosecution. County actually did the prosecution, but they were hamstrung by a recent ruling that one has to SPECIFICALLY be given the responsibility to handle FUNDS (like elected to office or be a treasurer, director etc.) in order to be charged in court with misuse of those funds. You have a right to be upset with the spin and previous lack of response.

Who made those promises and why aren’t there huge crowds of people jamming the city council chambers raising so much ruckus that council members have no choice but to pull their heads of of you-know-where and their hands out of our pockets…and actually DO something? Well, because not very many people really give a damn…thats how liars and crooks get elected and how our money gets mishandled, over and over and over and over again.

Just for grins though, I’d like to mention something that has bothered me since that Coles scandal. Why didn’t the city attorney, who was on some of the fraudulent trips and who was using her little “P” Card (taxpayers money) to buy lunches, etc. etc.etc… why didn’t she go to jail? Always seemed like she should’ve been the first one to go.

Like the local news is funnier than any sitcom…local government is better than any crime show on TV, the difference is that the bad guys hardly ever get prosecuted.

Stay tuned. This show goes on for as long as you can stand to watch.

I would think that cover-ups from the senior management level were not part of the plea bargain. If nothing else, the public needs to know names and each of their part in all this.

Those acccepting our tax dollars need to be responsible need to be held accountable for their actions.

At a minimum the Public Works director, Operations Division manager and those that were directly in control of what happened should be held responsible…

If something as major as this can happen without recourse, what kind of message are we sending? This is just wrong if nothing can be done.

EDITOR NOTE– YOU are sending the message here and now! Many good people read the GUARDIAN and this forum has become part of “the system.”

EDITOR NOTE–This one is bad news. Under Idaho law the only way the AG comes in is by invitation of the local county prosecutor. Ada prosecutor took the plea bargain and did indeed investigate. Problem is with the city management, not lack of criminal prosecution.