Comments on: Boise Fire Dept. Inept On Finance Plans

By: western guy

western guy — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 20:11:42 +0000

Remember, Chief Doan was Mayor Dave’s reelection committee finance chair one or two or four elections back.

Then Da Mayor elevated him from a mere Captain over several Deputy Chiefs to the #1 chair.

Scratch my back, I scratch yours…

By: JD

JD — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 14:55:28 +0000

The reason the cities have no desire to control anything related to growth is that they profit from growth.

The more property you can develop and the faster, then the more tax money you collect and the more you can spend – then you just blame the developers.

After you collect more money then you claim you cannot keep up and you need even more – so you do bonds.

Then you spend and spend and spend and promote more growth so you can get even more money.

Unfortunately Boise has elected people that have no ability to control spending – or asking for more money – or expanding the control they have with the CCDC.

By: western guy

western guy — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 23:23:47 +0000

Fire station on Overland Road across from Hillcrest golf course got moved somewhere east, paired with a paramedic ambulance station. Station on Franklin Road near Bishop Kelly high school was previously somewhere else but that might not be the second one that Frank noted.

Just drove by that station on Franklin Road today. Very minimalist design/construction. Compare to the freaking Taj Ma Hall’s on Ustick and Harris ranch! But Franklin was probably built with regular money, not the City bond.

EDITOR NOTE–Western, you are correct about #6 on Franklin. That was built many years ago, but similar screw up. City purchased land at Cole and Franklin(old 66 gas station), found it contaminated and built at present location where the land was about half as expensive. They were stuck with the commission and/or earnest money on the dirty site.

By: The Wolf

The Wolf — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 21:46:19 +0000

Frank;
What 2 fire stations got moved?

Western guy;
It was in the Thursday Statesman so nobody saw it.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 20:59:19 +0000

First the Boise mayor and council members are Elected civil servants. They work for their constituents! The fire department, in the first year, was given money from the general fund for design costs for the projects! Boise Residents did not NEED to move two fire stations 1/2 mile away from existing, our CIVIL SERVANTS WANTED to move them.
If our civil servants aren’t capable of getting things right, at costs of millions of dollars why don’t WE get civil servants that can. Remember last year when our elected civil servant Dave Bieter was so transparent about the Ridge to River SNAFU? Shame on US for thinking our elected civil servants are doing whats best for we Constituents.

By: western guy

western guy — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:40:55 +0000

5 commnets so far. Where is the outrage over total mis-expenditure of public funds?

By: Creat tje Problem

Creat tje Problem — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 15:22:30 +0000

Rules of politics –

1. NEVER let a problem go un-used!
2. Whenever possible CREATE the problem!
3. Always ask for MORE MONEY to solve the problem.
4. Start over at #1.

By: Idaholc

Idaholc — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 12:51:11 +0000

Nero fiddles with a $85 million library while Rome burns!

By: Blasphemous

Blasphemous — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 04:53:30 +0000

It’s blasphemous to question their budget. We need to follow California’s lead on this and just let them spend us into oblivion. It’s the right thing to do.

By: David

David — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 04:25:19 +0000

Growth for the sake of growth is the specialty of the cancer cell.

I am not certain it was ineptitude or a failure to lock the contract in a set price. When they agreed to the bond Boise citizens forgot to take into account the growth of the valley. The politicians did not help any either.

With the unrelenting growth because our hands are tied (I promised while I was golfing or whatever.) policy they will need another fire station (Dry Creek area) and that will require more personnel, etc.

You could keep the cost of the fire truck leasing and purchase down if you didn’t run a high dollar item on every medical call in Boise, or even Ada County. Smaller more fuel efficient quicker pickups or suburbans get to the scene faster than the 33-seconds quoted and cost less money to operate.

Will Boise or any other city in this valley do something more cost effective? DOUBTFUL! It’s better to put the taxpayer on the hook then take personal responsibility.