City Government

Mayor Hotline April 25 to May 1

LOTS OF TRASH TALK, BUS COMPLAINT, SPEEDERS

Francis Harlow
2775 S. Mayflower Wy.
Boise, ID 83709
322-7888
Trash: I’m calling to state my concerns, serious concerns, about this ridiculous new curb
program. Without the ability to leave extra bags or boxes of trash outside the street, that’s going to require extra bins. I can see often times we’re going to have to have three bins out there, maybe four. The concept of forcing people to participate in recycling is un-American. Frankly, it’s un-American to penalize us to do that, Mr. Mayor. If a person were a couple living on a small postage stamp lot in the North End, I could see this program working just fine. I happen to live out in Muir Wood Subdivision; that is on the edge of the west side of town in Southwest Boise, Cloverdale and Victory, a neighborhood that was annexed during your administration without being able to voice our opinion so that our property taxes could skyrocket and help pay for great programs like this. Now, we happen to have a large yard; it’s our right to have a large yard. We pay extra property taxes to have a large yard. It happens to be well landscaped. This produces a lot of yard clippings. Now I could pay more again for another bin for my yard clippings to put out on the street, or I could compost because that’s the eco-wise thing to do. However the compost bin that your program provides at a cost to me is going to be filled with yard clippings in one week, one week. So perhaps if I ordered say 30 of these, I might have enough to fill up. Of course there won’t be enough time for that to compost down to put back onto the yard, therefore next year I will need to order another set of them. Mr. Mayor, I have not been happy with your administration, you may have picked that up. When you went on the campaign against the Ten Commandments, boy you had me right on that, me and Father Faucher, a good friend of yours and a good friend of ours. Well, tell you what, this concept of this new trash program is insane. I wish to God that my house was an eighth of an acre further
west so that I was in the City of Meridian and not part of your domain. I would hope that you would have the courage to return my call so that I have a live person to express my extreme frustration over this. This is just the top; it’s like my new garbage bin just reached the top and it’s overflowing now, and there’s no way the lid can be pushed back down. (sigh of frustration)
Please, give me a call. Thank you.

Action Taken: contacted
4/27/09
Donald Washburn
675 S. 13th St.
Boise, ID
344-2933
Pit Burn: I’m concerned about the burn that goes on off Gowen Road. I realize it’s a fire
exercise. This is an extreme pollutant. I am paying to keep my car smog free and these people are putting more particulate matter and smog in the air than all the cars. Furthermore, it is unsightly and detrimental to the environment. Thank you.
Fire

4/28/09
Barney Barnett
10222 Poppy St.
Boise, ID 83704
377-2786
Code Enforcement: I’ve been trying, with no luck, to find out about a complaint that I turned
into Code Enforcement about a junk car on neighbor’s property next to the house; it’s not
licensed and not even street worthy. Mr. Brown from Code Enforcement told me that unless
there are two or three of them that really cause a problem; they don’t usually pursue it because I guess the city lawyers feel it’s a waste of time. I read the City Code and it definitely says “a city car”; it doesn’t say multiple. Also, it’s on a gravel driveway that he’s put in. I also read about that and it’s not supposed to be gravel. Mr. Brown said that he had no way of telling when that was put in; well it’s been here since 1989. The guy that put the driveway in has only lived here about 5 or 6 years. He put it in; there was a big tree there. Also, he did have RV’s parked on his lawn, which now he just pulled out and put in front of that junk car. I think something needs to be done because there are a lot of things on the city website about cleaning up Boise and whatnot. When you try to get something done, they basically refuse to do anything about it. Now, is City Code a law or is it enforceable, or what’s the deal? We need to find out what’s going on. I would sure appreciate somebody doing their job and taking care of this problem. I would appreciate hearing from you. Thank you very much for your time.
Action Taken: contacted
PDS

4/29/09
Anonymous
Speeding: I’m calling about speeding that is going on at the end Parkcenter where they’re
building the new Parkcenter Bridge and by Riverstone Elementary School. When I go by every
morning, there are a combination of bikes from kind of having to be detoured by the construction site and little kids walking. There is a 20 and 25 mile an hour speed limit and people are going 45 and 50. It’s right in a school zone and it’s right in a construction zone and I have never seen any policemen there. Is there any way that you guys can patrol the area and try to slow the traffic down a little bit? Somebody’s going to get hurt if they’re not very, very cautious in this area and I would like to see some patrols. Thank you.
BPD

4/29/09
Patricia Johnson
3499 W. Breneman St.
Boise, ID 83703
343-1050
Animal Control: I’m calling about some of the problems on the northwest side with urban lots where there are problems. I would surely like a call back. I had spoken to people earlier and we’re having a lot of trouble with animal nuisance and not getting anywhere. I would appreciate a call.
Action Taken: contacted

4/29/09
Thomas Shimota
3012 Hazel St.
Boise, ID
373-3897
School Zones: I have a complaint about a particular school zone on Overland Rd. around
Owyhee and Overland. I talked to ACHD and there are these particular yield signs that they
don’t have for the school zones that they should if they want to be up to federal standards.
They’re telling me that they don’t have to put these in until 2011. I said that that sucked
because I got a speeding ticket in that area and it wasn’t up to federal guidelines, but then
ACHD told me that the school zone might be changed in the next couple of months, and they are going to withhold doing anything in that area. I told that to a grandmother around and she’s got a grandkid that goes to that school and she was not too happy hearing about that. I would like to see something done about that area. Thanks.
Action Taken: left msj

4/30/09
Anonymous
Economy: Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor’s Office, I’ve noticed that with the cutback at Micron
and some of the other employers around here, we no longer need the extra space on the roads.

Good job, you’ve cut down on our traffic. I believe that’s what your goal was here. Also, with this reduction in traffic we probably don’t need any increase in fees or taxes because we don’t need the extra roadway. Have a nice day.

4/30/09
William
VRT: I ride a Boise bus quite often and I’ve really gotten to hate the bus service in Boise. It’s
virtually a joke; the drivers blow smoke in your face when you’re sitting downtown. They take smoke breaks and they don’t stand away from the bus. They virtually blow the smoke right into the bus. Half of them are overweight and really disgruntled. About three or four times the bus didn’t even pull in to pick me up on Warm Springs; they have a short bus and the lady didn’t even bother, she just drove right past the pick up in front of the US Bank, just blew right past it. I guess she figured there was no one going down Warm Springs. It’s just a terrible, terrible bus
service; I don’t understand why there are still people getting paid. It’s just a joke of a bus
service. It stops on Sundays; there’s no evening service. If you go to any other city – Portland, Seattle, Denver, Honolulu, they all have much better bus service. Boise needs to fire all the people and get it together.

4/30/09
John Woodward
2120 Courtney
Boise, ID
866-2973
Trash: I looked at the thing about changing the waste collection and I happen to agree with
recycling. My problem is we have nothing on a routine basis to recycle except a few glass
bottles. We probably drink 10 beers in a week from glass bottles. We don’t drink sodas,
aluminum can stuff, mulch the grass, hardly print any paper out, don’t get a newspaper. Most of the regular food waste and stuff and egg cartons go in the trash can. If I’m missing something for recycling I would like to know because I really believe in it, but again other than glass, I don’t think I am. I go the landfill with my brush after I cut it because I hate it to be around. So, if I’m missing something, or if you guys can direct us to a website about recycling here in the city, that would be a great thing. I really appreciate your time. Thank you.
Action Taken: contacted
4/30/09
Dennis McDonald
6153 Grand Jean Pl.
Boise, ID 83709
Trash: I saw on the front page of today’s Statesman, Thursday, April 30th, about the new trash and recycling program and how everything is going to help keep items out of the landfill. Where do all of our old garbage cans go?

5/1/09

5/1/09
Ronald Kline
4820 Glenbrook Dr.
Boise, ID
Trash: I’m calling about the new trash system. I would like to know how I go about scheduling
my leaves to fall in the fall according to the new AW trash collection system. How do I get rid of
my leaves? This is just one of the few things that concerns me. If you would pass this on to the
Mayor, I doubt if he will do anything about it, but I thought I would call.
Action Taken: contacted he has lots more leaves then the 2 weeks for releaf Boise. Can an
extra week be added to releaf pick up?
5/1/09
Francis Harlow
2775 S. Mayflower Wy.
Boise, ID 83709
322-7888
Trash: I’m calling back because I thought well, let’s be proactive here; let’s check out this
composting bin. Perhaps if I get one of those and use it, I won’t have as much trash to have to put out on the street. I went to the website and checked it out. It’s a 55 gallon bin; one week’s worth of grass clippings will fill that, one week. Now I suppose I could order one bin for each week of the growing season; that makes sense. (sigh of frustration) I hope the Mayor, the City Council and all those involved in this decision, take a few minutes and go to the Idaho Statesman online. Look at the comments; right now it appears to be running about 90 percent who agree with me and these are folks, generally extremely liberal folks, who pretty much wow
any sort of action that the government does, the city does, any rules and restrictions placed on the people. So, this is not a biased political thing; this is people just thinking practically.
Something your office might think about trying. I hope someone will please return my call.

5/1/09
Casey O’Connell
Trash: I’m not actually a resident of Boise; I live just outside the city limits in an area that will hopefully be annexed soon off of S. Cole and Victory. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know this Curb It Boise program is awesome. I’m so excited that you’re doing it and I think it’s a wonderful program. I especially like the composting bins; I think that’s going to be a great idea. I know you’re probably getting a lot of flack judging by the comments I see in the Idaho Statesman article about the folks who can’t have unlimited trash any more. I just wanted to say you’re doing the right thing and I’m so glad you’re doing it. I can’t wait until it becomes available in my area and just keep your chins up and don’t let the bad guys get you down on this because this is a wonderful program and you’re definitely doing the right thing. Thanks.

5/1/09
Barney Barnett
10222 Poppy St.
Boise, ID 83704
Trash: I just wanted to make a comment on this new garbage plan for the new bins. I think it’s an excellent idea. It’s something that has needed to be done for a long time. I’ve had them before and it works great. I just wanted to say that because it seems like the Statesman has an agenda trying to get rid of it or be against it. Also, what they will need to do is enforce people to use the lids because I sure get tired of picking up garbage out of my yard because everybody’s lids fall off and blow into my yard. That’s something that really needs to be looked at because it’s unsightly when you see garbage lying around from dogs getting into it or whatever. Maybe this will take care of that problem, I don’t know. Anyway, it’s a great idea; go through with it.
Thank you.

5/1/09
Christy Anadama
1605 N. 29th St.
Boise, ID 83703
331-1406
Forestry: I had contacted the Boise Urban Forestry Department on September 18, 2007 and
this matter has not been resolved as of this date. I am told that they are very busy and they are
doing Releaf Boise, etc., etc. So this has been going on for quite a long time, I think you might
agree. I want them to remove the remains of this Black Walnut tree; it is disturbing and I have
asked repeatedly and I sent in all of the paper work a long time ago and this has not been
addressed. If you can help me; I think this is probably not a good way to do it. This seems like
a lot of delay here and I don’t like talking to machines.
Action Taken: unsuccessful
5/1/095/1/09
Diane Anderson
3350 S. Southerly Wy.
Boise, ID 83709
887-8567 or 891-5511
School Shortcut: I live right adjacent to the new West Jr. High school complex and I talked to
the school district transportation person about getting a pathway from Maple Grove for those
kids who go down Maple Grove to help save some money on transportation costs so they can
get to school to both the high school and West Jr. High and Vo-Tech center that happens to be
bussed. I talked to both of them and they said that maybe the Mayor can be involved in helping to get a pathway from Maple Grove into those schools. I talked to the LDS Church Stake President that’s adjacent to that Magerdio Park property and maybe all three entities can work together to get a pathway and get clearance to get a bike and walking path from those schools to Maple Grove. It would help with transportation costs and safety and emergency vehicle transport so those kids don’t have to be bused around the corner and back up to the schools. If you could find a working compromise on getting a pathway built I would be glad to help coordinate it or whatever I can do. Thank you; I’m sure we can come to some equitable, financial agreement that will help save money and include the safety and access for those kids at school.
Action Taken: left msj

Anonymous
Trash: I just read about the Mayor’s new trash program and I have to say that I don’t really see how this benefits anybody, except for Allied Waste Systems. I am a democratic voter and I voted for the Mayor in the last election, but because of this I probably will not be voting for Mayor Bieter in any coming elections. Thank you.

5/1/09
Luke Fulkerson
2109 S. Kerr St.
Boise, ID 83705
Trash: I just wanted to call and commend you on this progressive movement of the trash cans. I really appreciate this; it’s going to save a lot of time and effort. Please disregard the noise that’s coming from people who have nothing better to do than complain. So, from my family to yours, thank you very much.
Lady from Sacramento called: 4/24/09 PM, 4/25/09 PM, 4/26/09 PM, 4/26/09 PM, 4/27/09 PM, 4/28/09 PM, 4/29/09 AM, 4/29/09 AM, 4/30/09 AM, 4/30/09 PM, 5/1/09 AM

Comments & Discussion

Comments are closed for this post.

  1. Tom Anderson
    May 6, 2009, 12:18 am

    I have zero patience with people who think GOD gave them a right to set out 5 giant garbage cans every week.

    They ‘dispose of’ all the stuff their yard produces, then turn right around and carry a bunch of the same stuff back in their vehicles from Walmart instead of just leaving it where it is or using it as mulch.

    Message to clueless people:::: All you need to do to compost is pile stuff up. No fancy bins are needed. Worms will do the work if the thing never heats up. If you want really good compost then you need to pee on the pile, add horse manure, or learn about humanure.

  2. Tom, while I’m out peeing and defecating in my yard I’ll also build an eco-friendly tipi and eat only what grows where I use the bathroom.

    I like the curb it idea and may start composting some yard waste and table scraps, but beyond that….

  3. Only good ol’ Tom Anderson could drag God and Walmart into a government services discussion.

    You see Tom the local government charges us citizens money for sewer and trash. My last bill was about $75 bucks. Previously the city contracted with a trash company to pick up unlimited trash placed in bins. This was a great service when you took out a big Juniper bush or remodeled the bathroom. Under the new program the trash is no longer unlimited which means I will have to make a run up to the dump a couple times a year. I took a load up there a few weeks ago, 33 bucks! There’s money in that trash biz.

    Although the no sort recycling will be handy, (unseen what it will do to our bills) the reduction in trash service is unfortunate and could be costly.

    Now please get back to your cliche liberal talking points, tell me more about peak oil, evil walmart, and that man in the sky I waste my time talking to.

  4. God has nothing to do with it. Except for the people who don’t have religion… well they actually do… It’s a new kind centered on saving the planet from us terrible humans. They try to control thy neighbor with a religious like zeal by participating in various godless special interest groups which have done little other than drive up the cost of living by growing government oversight of how many trash cans I put at the curb. Please get a life. Oh, let’s not forget our new fearless leader said to take your tax and rebate checks right past the savings account to the Chinese junk store so we can continue to fund said bloated government.

    I for one think there are four kinds of trash: 1) That which is economical to recycle like Al, Fe, and oil based products. 2) That which burns well and clean for electricity generation. 3) That which needs be burnt very hot for safe disposal. 4) That which is best to cover with dirt.

    Did ya know that the separated recycled stuff often goes to the same dump as the other trash because there’s no profit in recycling much of the stuff?

  5. Is road use really down with the local layoffs… or is that call just full of it?

  6. Tom Anderson
    May 6, 2009, 9:35 pm

    With fertilizer prices rising, water becoming problematic, and the future of cheap energy in high doubt, lawn farmers are going the way of the dinosaur. The car, big house with expansive lawn are not going to be around much longer, which should lessen the trash stream significantly. It’s hard to produce a lot of trash when you are homeless, jobless, and living in old, abandoned business buildings.

  7. Mr. Watcher
    May 7, 2009, 7:44 am

    Two points on this topic:
    Our wonderful mayor now has his life back because he will not have to sort out his recyclable trash. He can now toss it in one bin so thousands of truck miles of new driving can take this unsorted trash to a place that can do that and haul it back.
    Second point: Recycling is pushed by the same people who push Global Warming which is now called Climate Change due to the facts no longer support Global Warming. These same people don’t believe that I should be allowed to own an SUV. But support their demogods who use SUVs and private jets. (frankly I’ve never seen the inside of a private jet but in the movies) Now the earth worshipers want to somehow bring God’s name into this topic. Frankly these people do so because they have zero respect for God being Godless. These are the same people who have zero feelings for the 50,000,000 children that have been butchered by abortion in the last 35 years.
    Frankly, the system for trash that we have in place now works just fine. However the new trash company wants to make it so they only need to have one person on each truck to cut employment cost down or in half. I’m sure our wonderful mayor will receive some direct help from AW come next election time. You can’t make this stuff up and it happens right in our faces.

  8. Tom… as government grows and the taxpayer sinks, what you say is happening… but not for the silly reason you think. I invest in places that don’t crush business and the little guy with oppressive taxes and oversight thus I’m still living well. It’s exactly what most of your elected liberal friends are doing with their money too… so it’s a safe bet at least until they make the double standard for politicians official IRS policy. Do you know how to push a mower? The neighbor kid is a little slow, you sound like a pro.

  9. Tom Anderson
    May 7, 2009, 4:59 pm

    My silly reason is that global oil production has peaked, which is the majority view of the world’s petroleum geologists, who might know a thing or two about the subject. The proof can be seen in global oil field production reports, and easily predicted by ‘Peak Oil Theory’ which is hard science; not opinion, not wishful thinking.

    I sold my house 3.5 years ago, cashed out of the stock market 2.5 years ago, and am totally out of debt with considerable resources, so don’t currently mow lawns.

    A silly book I read several years back, called “The Coming Economic Collapse”, by Dr. Stephen Leeb, cued me in to the current crisis. I found the book through “Peak Oil” websites, of which there are many. A check of your local library will find over 50 books written on the subject of Peak Oil.

    All this silliness put my return on investment at over 5% last year in things, not fiat currency based intruments, which are not currently long for this world.

    Actually knowing what is going on can be rather profitable. The richest folks in America all made the bulk of their fortunes during major economic dislocations. The current dislocation is the Grand Daddy of them all. I am betting that hundreds of banks will fail this year, the price of oil will go ballistic, food prices will double, and gold will cross $2,000 per ounce.

    Happy investing!

  10. Cheap easy global oil might have peaked… but not likely… (all the more reason for a trash burner though) So so many places we have not drilled yet. Also you forget the oil patch in the northern plains running into Canada which holds 8x the Saudi fields… it’s not cheap though. Can find Saudi oil with a pick and light it with a match… this stuff is a tough drill and nasty burn.

    All but $2000 gold happend in 2008 silly… (when a bank takes federal money it has failed.) And thus as you say it was time to make hay these past few months.

    We will have a nice federal spending caused bounce until it becomes apparent our money is junk and our leadership is out of ideas.

    If you sold your house… who’s compost pile you been messing on?

    God says thanks for leaving him out this time.

  11. Dave, you really need to have a “best of” archive, for that lady with the problem of yard waste. It’s a classic.

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