Comments on: Pure Thoughts On Clear Water Issue

By: Matt Phelps

Matt Phelps — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 03:56:53 +0000

It seems to me that the city and the developers are trying to make up for their lack of foresight to be charging the correct amount for the L I D up front costs that are charged for each building lot that is developed. Why should the general public (current taxpayers) pay for the city and county officials for their failure to keep up with the obvious reality. And for YEARS now the developers have been laughing all the way to the bank, and still are. The list of contributors on the YES list pretty much says it all. Donating $5000 is probably the amount that should have been added to each building lot at the time of the sale. Tommy, you of all people should be ashamed of yourself. I am disappointed. How much money is enough ???

By: PD

PD — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 20:43:49 +0000

Today I witnessed a City Public Works vehicle, apparently visiting or working at the city sewer plant but not actually within the gate- personal or official?

Anyway– the vehicle is a sweeeet, Jeep.
A 4×4 Jeep.
4 door Sahara Wrangler.
A $50,000 vehicle!

Is that cost really necessary for a city vehicle?

By: Sponsors

Sponsors — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:46:15 +0000

Any chance we could get the super rich people and businesses in Boise to fund the sewer project? Micron for example (and it’s top tier of pocket stuffers). As the number one user of our local nearly free to them fresh water and fresh young labor force could buy a sponsorship and we could hang their trademarks on the new sewer pump houses and treatment plants? Kinda like Amazon just did with nasty old Key Bank Arena in Seattle. Unless mistaken the stadium refurbishment was not paid for by the city.

By: Schofield

Schofield — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 05:11:04 +0000

The ordinance for the bond does indicate that funding could come from city funds so this bond could potentially “free-up” money for other things? From section 5 . . . “The City anticipates that a portion of the cost of the Utility Plan may be defrayed by federal grants, grants from the State of Idaho, and/or City funds.”

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 12:33:21 +0000

Most residents in the City of Boise thought the $100 million library proposed by elected public servants was a crock of S-it. Do you suppose this sewer bond is THEIR way of building IT?

EDITOR NOTE–Sewer is an “enterprise fund” basically run as a business apart from the general fund budget. The bond would not “free up” money to be spent on something else.

By: Inna

Inna — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 20:37:54 +0000

Something smells rotten in the City of Boise: the sewer bond. These people are really creative with the public money, many “bright minds” at work. This all is scheming that gets passed for the city planning.

By: western guy

western guy — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 16:12:42 +0000

Easterner:

I meant to say ‘why is Boise increasing the size and scope of its government’ just to accomodate more residents? Why does Boise need more and denser housing within its boundaries?

Replace sewer lines (maybe with a bit of additional capacity), but no need to accomodate the prison blocks that are being allowed to be built, especially in downtown. Are developers paying for the increased swewer and water needs, roads, schools, trash collection?

EDITOR NOTE–Our point exactly. Even with subdivisions, use of the “community infrastructure district” puts the cost of expansion on future buyers. It is merely a tax limited to the development so the developer doesn’t have to pay up front. No sewer or water means no expansion.

By: McClean is worse than Bieter

McClean is worse than Bieter — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 23:28:22 +0000

Why is the city getting into building housing, mental health, childcare, food security (what?) and small business support anyway?

They should be concerned with public health and safety.

You add in the $1.5 million and 22 employees in the department of community engaging in propaganda, along with at least one PR flack for every department and I guess you can bamboozle the public into anything, particularly if you never discuss anything.

Here’s hoping we have three new council members who actually want to serve the public.

By: Easterner

Easterner — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:56:09 +0000

Okay General, so?
ARP money may have to be designated with federal strings attached. Those all seem pretty good funding recipients. And if ARP is allowed for infrastructure, why would any prudent financial mngr do that when other funds are available? People do this all the time in their personal lives- expect something different for local government?

You want ARP for the sewer and then the city would not have funds for Housing, childcare, etc? And then no need to increase USER FEES as much? Is that the message?

Reasonable, but it’s the same as every person spent their Stimulus Check on food so they can use their food budget to buy toys (?) – I have not heard of anyone refusing that free money (for those eligible).

Clearly, the city (ies) and states, are and will be flush with federal money (just like if rffrom the past 2 years.
I saw a student’s “account statement” with a payment applied to it for that person directly from Stimulus Money. smh!

By: Schofield

Schofield — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 03:15:58 +0000

Easterner – Rather than allocate the funds from the American Rescue Plan to pay for water/sewer infrastructure, the Boise website shows the City has already selected the following categories to spend these funds on: Housing, Mental Health, Food Security, Small Business Support, and Childcare.

That is what I am referring to.