Comments on: Dynamis Inks Deal With Ada Commishes

By: Concerned Citizen

Concerned Citizen — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:01:48 +0000

I find it odd that none of the local television stations are even doing a story on this yet. maybe we need to keep their phone lines busy.

By: embarressed

embarressed — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:44:04 +0000

Isn’t it interesting what you can find out if you start digging around in public records?! And wow, astonishing how willing people seem to be to fill you in on what they know when it comes to the topic of Dynamis. Public records show:

Commissioner Fred Tilman met with Dynamis on May 6, 2010 at 9:00 am.,
Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre met with them on May 14, 2010 at 8:30,
Fred Tilman again on May 14, 2010 at 2:30 p.m.,
Fred Tilman again on May 18, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.,
Fred Tilman again on May 27, 2010 at 3:00 p.m.
Fred Tilman again on June 4, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.,
Fred Tilman again on June 11, 2010 at 11 a.m.,
Commission Sharon Ullman on June 15, 2010 at 1:30 p.m.,
Rick Yzaguirre on June 15, 2010 at 11 a.m.,
Fred Tilman on June 16, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.,
Then suddenly on June 30, 2010, all three commissioners met and signed a contract giving Dynamis TWO MILLION DOLLARS… never before was there ever a meeting held with this group where a quorum of the Board existed.

Employees tell me that there were many meetings off-site and that Commissioner Fred Tilman started all the individual meetings and then as time wound down for him, Commissioner Sharon Ullman picked up being the “go to” person for this group with many more individual meetings. These are the only ones that are documented on calendars thereby creating a public record. The meeting on June 30 was a 15-30 minute meeting stating how great of a partnership this was going to be, etc. and the contract was signed and as I understand it, even documented by a photographer. If you want to check this information, submit a public records request to Ada County asking for them to produce calendars on these dates and times (as it seems like the media organizations, the AG and the Prosecutor should have been doing but yet little ol’ me found this information out by poking around). To fill out a public records request go to: http://www.adaweb.net, click on Commissioners, then click on Public Records Request Information. It will be interesting to see if the records still exist between the time this posting goes public and by the time anyone submits a request.

The BIG issue for me is, it’s obvious these “individual” meetings were an attempt to avoid a quorum and make the issue open to the public as the law requires as it’s obvious, no organization would sign a contract giving TWO MILLION DOLLARS away without a lot of discussion first, a performance bond, etc. (or at least they shouldn’t have) and it’s even more obvious that it was done intentionally in violation of the open meeting law. What makes this so blatant and reprehensible is that two of these commissioners were previously charged and found guilty of violating the open meeting law to the tune of taxpayers paying something like $30k in defense fees. The commissioners paid a measly $150 out of their pockets once found guilty but the big kicker is the other commissioner, Sharon Ullman, touts herself as “Miss Open Government” even advocating open government enough that she won the Max Dalton award and proudly mentions it on her bio. Here’s a clip from her bio posted on adaweb.net.

“She spent 17 years as a public advocate, working on a broad range of issues that impacted Ada County residents including lobbying for responsible sewer implementation rates, water and garbage collection rates, school and property tax reform, and – perhaps most importantly – openness in government. In 1999, Sharon was awarded the first-ever Max Dalton Open Government Award from the Idaho Newspaper Foundation for her advocacy of legislation to promote more transparent government for all Idaho citizens.”

If it wasn’t my money that was being thrown away and my interests not being represented at all by my elected officials, I’d probably laugh about how unbelievable this is but it’s not funny! Bottom line, each one of these three commissioners knowingly violated the Open Meeting law and did so intentionally. I am embarrassed to be a resident of Ada County and to have any of them representing my interests. Thank God Vern voted against the new contract–at least someone is paying attention and representing voters. All taxpayers should be as OUTRAGED as I am.

By: Glad someone's finally noticing

Glad someone's finally noticing — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:25:56 +0000

Yes. They also did a special tax deal of some sort with scentsy. The last administration at ada county was big on what they called public- private partnerships. Not sure of details but pretty sure multiple tax exempt deals for companies offering to build or start business in the area like scentsy. Dynamis is different. They gave cold hard cash to them. These others were told they could skip paying proprty taxes despite being for-profit enterprises. And then there were the Allied Waste and Nancy Cladis cozy little bid awards plus the planning and zoning favorites who got applications pushed through.

By: Paul m

Paul m — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:12:11 +0000

I’ve heard that some of the activities from the original Dynamis contract were brought to the attention of the prosecutors office and possibly the AG also. I’m curious as to why no investigation was conducted. It seems like it was just swept under the rug.

By: Zippo

Zippo — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Are they also sending our money to one of those Utah based scented candle pyramids too?

By: I Know It's True Too

I Know It's True Too — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:18:56 +0000

in answer to Paul, there was no due diligence. there was no bid or request for proposals until AFTER the decision had already been made to sign w/ Dynamis. Then, to cover their tracks, a request for proposals or of interest, not sure what they’re called, was made public and in a quick 10 days or so it closed and everyone was informed that Dynamis had been chosen. This is all public record. But no one ever bothers to do the research.

By: dog

dog — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:12:26 +0000

Norm Semanko got a loan for his house from the Irrigaton Users Association which takes tax money.
When you live with a corrupt feudal
government like what we have here in beautiful Idaho, one should expect the taxpayers to fund the rich.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:48:02 +0000

I
Given the fact Tipping fees are gone and the PURPA reimbursements from Idaho Power have gone down to a mere $.06/KWH of power generated and land fills in the area will last more than 100 years before the recent 40% decline (thanks in part to recycling) in stuff going to the land fill makes me wonder about the due diligence done with this project.

The politics say DEQ won’t like the emissions from this project but they will approve it anyway.

By: Concerned Citizen

Concerned Citizen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:34:23 +0000

OK maybe I am not quite understanding what I am reading, but since when did Ada County become a financial institution? Why should we have to fund Dynamis? Maybe they should have to apply for business loans or grants like the rest of us. On another note, this stinks of the same rediculous debackle that the Obama administration miserably failed at, funding the solar power project that went bancrupt just recently. I am no opponent for change as a matter of fact, I welcome it with open arms. However, it surely seems that the Ada County Commish responsible for this, should [or maybe it is more than one, just not Vern as he voted against see above] ask themselves, what qualifies me as a loan officer? I want to get one thing straight before the election, you commissioners were elected to serve in OUR best interest. Not YOUR own. I will be watching and I will be at every upcoming question/answer town hall type meeting. Another thing try to make amends with the City of Boise. Work out the differences. I am sure you do not want to disinfranchise the citizens of Boise before upcoming elections. Thank You Vern for saying enough is enough!!!

By: chicago sam

chicago sam — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:44:10 +0000

Dynamis despite their carefully worded claims which infer otherwise have never built an operating plant. Spokane has had a waste to energy plant for a number of years. Their garbage rates are twice what we pay here in the treasure valley. Our land fills will last for decades. Air pollution –if it is so clean why do they need a smokestack –Cost effective–30% free money from the feds–wonder whose pockets that will from –Purpa rates –Idaho Power will recover those costs from somewhere like you if you use electricity. If we had no place to put our garbage and our electricity rates were three times higher than they are now–maybe–but this company has no track record and you cannot review their financials because the companys are all LLC’S. Look for an attempt down the road to get County or Boise to guarantee the bonds. Like Harrisburg Pa. did