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City Government

Mayor Hotline June 2 to 8

 June 13, 2007 ⋅  Post a comment

FIREMEN JUST DUCKY, SETTLE WITH COP UNION, PROPERTY TAX SHOCK, NUKES, BOOM BOXES

6/2/07
Rebecca Rene
Resident of Boise
BFD: I work at Treasure Valley Hospital and we had a duck running around here with ducklings most of the day, then the ducklings disappeared. When I got off shift, we went out and found them in the storm drain with the mother duck just sitting there like she had been there for hours not moving. We called the dispatch line, then they called the fire department, and the fire department actually came over because they didn’t have a fire to be at. I wanted to let you know these three guys’ names; they were absolutely amazing, I mean they could have been bird experts or professional animal lovers. It was really impressive; they were very good, very kind, very nice and they are from Engine 6 on the A shift today, which is Saturday, June 2, 2007. Their names are Tom Moore, Burt Torkelson, and Corey Lemay. You can call me if you want more info, but I thought if there are any little letters of thanks from the Mayor’s office, they like so deserve it. I was happy to be a resident of Boise today. Thanks.
M/CC BFD HR

6/8/07
Judith McMillan
1909 Lake Heron Ln.
Boise, ID
Police Union: I think you need to settle this thing with the police department. I think it’s outrageous that they have worked so long without a contract. They’re an excellent police force and I think you need to dump your drunk-driving chief of staff now.
M/CC BPD (EDITOR NOTE: Similar letters at extended posting)

6/3/07
Susan Ballenger
1110 W. Hale St.
Boise, ID 83706
Noise: My concern is the boom boxes. People drive around in their cars with extremely loud music that vibrates the inside of your house. It’s annoying, but one of the reasons I am calling is that I experienced a situation at a gas station. A guy drove up and had two huge speakers in the back seat of his car and between those speakers was a child strapped into his car seat. The music was so loud that it was ear shattering; the expression on the child’s face was one of torture, and the music was so full of profanity and gross stuff. The whole time he was at the gas station he never turned it off, and he was speaking obscenities and just like a wild person. I wanted to go get that child out of that back seat. I wanted to know what can a person do about the boom boxes, and is it child cruelty, because it should be child cruelty, for children to be strapped into their seats and unable to get away from this ear splitting music. I would appreciate a response, and I would like to know what it is that I can do as a citizen to help these children and to curb this boom box business which is extremely annoying to everybody. Thank you very much, and I appreciate your listening.
M/CC
Action Taken: contacted

6/1/07
John Weber
9535 W. Corey Ln.
Boise, Id 83704
Nuclear Reactor: I’m calling to see if the Mayor and City Council were aware of the meeting that happened last night in Bruneau. They’re planning on building the biggest nuclear reactor in the United States forty miles southeast of Boise, and we would be downwind of this nuclear reactor. I’m hoping the Mayor and City Council can stop this from happening, and at least bring some public comments so Boise and Ada County residents can comment on this, because currently they’re only accepting comments from Owyhee County residents, even though we will be much affected by this. Thank you.
M/CC

6/3/07
Melissa Cramer
3336 N. Lakeharbor Ln.
Boise, ID 83703
Misc: I’m calling in regards to The Landing apartments. I have had no air conditioning in my apartment for a week now, and they have been giving me the run around, and we have children and pets living here. They have been very rude and haven’t done anything about it. If you can call me back, it would be really important.
M/CC
Action Taken: contacted

6/3/07
Melissa Cramer
3336 N. Lakeharbor Ln.
Boise, ID 83703
Misc: I’m calling in regards to The Landing apartments. I have had no air conditioning in my apartment for a week now, and they have been giving me the run around, and we have children and pets living here. They have been very rude and haven’t done anything about it. If you can call me back, it would be really important.
M/CC
Action Taken: contacted

6/4/07
Ann Campbell
1102 N. 6th St.
Boise, ID 83702
Property Taxes: My tax appraisal for my house just got to my house this weekend and it went up $100,000, which is absolutely insane and ridiculous. The city needs to roll back the levy with these kinds of absurd increase in taxes. My husband and I have a young child to educate and this is sucking money out of our pockets. Our salary is not going up a fraction of the amount these property taxes are going up.
M/CC
Action Taken: contacted

6/4/07
Jack Lindsey
2792 S. Charlotte Ave.
Boise, ID 83709
Property Taxes: My problem is I just got my Ada County Assessor’s Assessment notice, and I have given them a call, but I’m waiting for them to return the call. On last year’s value of my lot, they have down $44,000, and this year they say it’s $83,600; it’s almost double. On the residence they just went from $113,500 to $119,000 which is only a $6,000 increase. Number one, I would like to know who puts these things together; number two, I think doubling the value in one year is a little absurd. I’m on a fixed income, I’m 71 years old, I’ve lived in Boise since January of 1981, I don’t really want to move, but you people are almost forcing me to. I’m not very happy about this. I think there’s either a mistake here, or you people are just pricing us right out of our homes. I, for one, am not happy about that. I would like to talk to somebody about it; I mean what’s it going to be next year, $160,000 just on the lot. This is ridiculous. This growth should pay for itself; I think people should pay more impact fees; I don’t know why you lay this on the back of senior citizens sometimes, and I for one am tired of it. If someone will or can talk to me about it, I would sure be glad to talk to them. Thank you.
M/CC

6/4/07
James Richards
Misc: He would like to send some forged documents to Mayor Bieter for his review (phony medical reports, copies of checks stolen from him, etc.). Bill Litster handled his case. The State Bar is protecting Mr. Litster. Mr. Richards sits in front of Idaho Supreme Court Bldg. with a sign. Someone forged his signature to get his medical records. All of this came out of Bill Litster’s office. Somebody should be able to do something. No one will listen to Mr. Richards. Phony medical report went across state lines. Mr. Richards is a disabled man, has had 5 surgeries on his spine and two fusions. Mary Simmons who works for Bill Litster is the one doing these things.
Mayor
Action Taken: spoke w/ him & rec’d docs.

6/6/07
Robert Peterson
2425 W. Bannock
Boise Id 83702
Greek Food Festival Complaint: I can’t believe this is allowed in a neighborhood. There was garbage all over and I had people peeing in my carport. Please send this to the proper person.
M/CC BPD

6/6/07
Bruce Hanson
Hanson Janitorial Supply
914 Lee St
Code Enforcement: We’re having a problem with the Mardi Gras Dance Hall next to us leaving trash, beer, wine bottles, broken glass, and many other objects being left after they have a function, and we can’t seem to get them to clean it up. Large amounts of garbage are left, over-filled dumpsters, smell of beer and alcohol, and a general mess is left after each one of their functions. I’m just trying to get hold of somebody who can get me to the right person and/or department that we can possibly meet with and see what we can do to get it cleaned up and be good neighbors.
M/CC PDS
Action Taken: contacted

6/7/07
Richard Lamm
Allied Waste: I had Allied Waste deliver a dumpster in April to a house on the North End that I was hired to clean out. The people had died and I was conducting an estate sale there. Afterwards there were a lot of things that hadn’t sold and they weren’t worth donating, so they needed to be thrown out. Anyhow, I filled this dumpster up with just stuff from the house, just junk; the people had lived in the house for like 50 years. Allied Waste is saying that I was doing construction or had construction debris in this dumpster, and they’re charging me at least $100 – $125 more than what they should for the removal and the disposal of this stuff. I have gone back and forth in talking to Allied Waste and they don’t answer my calls. I just talked to the woman and she acted like that’s the way it’s going to be because that’s what the determination was – that it was construction waste. It was not construction waste; it was just junk that needed to be hauled away. I can’t seem to resolve anything with them, and I’m just questioning why the city is even doing business with them. Anyhow, if you could get back to me, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
M/CC PW

6/8/07
Jenny Sterling
1800 S. Curtis
Boise
Police Union: I would like you to settle the union contract with the Boise Police Department; they’re very important to everybody here. We voted your library thing down, so why don’t you put that money toward your employees. Thank you.
M/CC BPD

6/8/07
Dan Hollowell
Meridian
(owns property in Boise)
Police Union, BFD and Property Taxes: My concerns are regarding the discussion on talk radio this morning about the raise of police officers trying to get some kind of contract. One thing I noticed, after I got my tax assessment for the year, some of where my money is going, I am now paying on my property just a little over $1,000 a year just for fire protection. Watching how the fire department works these days, I don’t understand it for the mere fact that because I own semi’s and I run the road with these semi’s, and I know how expensive they are to operate, how is it that you can be cost effective running these semi’s to every little fender bender in the name of safety. It is very expensive to do so; I know the county does it; I know the City of Meridian does it; I know we would like to save everybody, but sometimes at whose expense. What I’m saying is, if the city really wants to save some money, they need to analyze how they’re doing business. Now we live in a world where we’ve got people who don’t really belong in this country that are here abusing the system and it’s costing us on that end, which is a different story. It all ties together and the tax payer is paying the cost in all this, and the city which is responsible for the fiscal budget has to realize that sometimes you just can’t do everything. Sometimes you have to let things go and my concerns are the way we look to California to lead the example, they’re in a position now where it’s costing them probably their statehood for the mere fact that they’re so far in red in their costs that it’s just getting out of hand, and for what? Everybody wants more money; I would love to have more money, fuel’s up, groceries are up, everything is up and it’s very expensive. It’s just not going to happen; we need to run everything just like we do in the small business world. We do what we can, we make things do, but you know what, if there’s an accident and I’m having to be there, I would be glad to stop; I always have and that’s what good Samaritans do. Let the good Samaritans do their thing; there’s cell phones out there; they can make that call. To run all that heavy equipment out for what; a fender bender; you’re going to go broke. If the city could at least look at these things when they go to their budget hearings, maybe they would realize maybe there is some more money if we cut back on doing these things. Another thing to think about – it’s about time that we ask for volunteers on the fire department. The fire department to me is not at all what it’s cracked up to be. We’ve made them heroes just because of 911; you know what, if you want to take the time, I would be glad to run the Mayor through these fire houses. On any given night, they’re watching porno flicks because they have nothing to do on their hands, and that’s what they do. You know what, it’s apalling to see that kind of behavior. You could really do some trim work and maybe even staff half of that with volunteers; they would love the training. Get the city to train volunteers and back off some of the expensiveness of running the fire department, and maybe there might be some money for the police department, then it could go both ways on things. These are just suggestions, but I would be willing to sit down on any committee and talk about it. I pay a fair amount of taxes with the properties I have here in the city and also in the county. I would love to have a bank with a ton of money in it at all times, but you know what, it just doesn’t happen. I know the county does because they raise my taxes alone 25% in 1 year. There’s money; it just needs to be appropriated right and needs to be fiscally spent right; that’s just the way I see things.
M/CC BPD BFD

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