About 3,000 residents voted in Eagle in the primary, but the permanent Fire override tax levy had fewer than 300 ballots cast. Final tally was 210 in favor and 85 against.

There are 7 polling places in Eagle where people voted in the primary election on candidates for congress, legislature and county offices. Fire commissioners offered only a single location–Fire Station #1– to cast a ballot on the tax override which increased property taxes for everyone.

Eagle Fire Chief Dan Friend defended the single polling place saying, legal notices were posted in the local newspaper and he had spoken to various groups about the measure. He also cited costs of election workers at about $700 per precinct as being a factor in the decision to limit voting to just one location.

The GUARDIAN feels there was unnecessary confusion Tuesday. People simply should not have to drive all over town to vote on each issue. If 7 precincts is appropriate for a primary election, those same 7 precincts are appropriate for an important permanent tax increase.

In their defense, firefighters passed out printed information prior to the election informing people of the single polling place. We think it was inadequate and inappropriate to expect people to make a second trip to vote after voting for primary candidates.

Ada County Clerk and chief county election officer David Navarro agreed with the GUARDIAN saying, “It only makes sense to vote in the same place on the same day. We would have been happy to partner with them so people could vote with just one trip to the polls.”

“There was definite confusion for voters, but Fire Districts conduct their own elections and I absolutely respect that law,” concluded Navarro.

Bottom line: fewer than 10% of the people who ACTUALLY VOTED were able to raise the taxes for 100% of the property owners. The Fire District woul have made a good investment if the voters had the convenience of voting at each of the 7 precincts. Voters got burned.

About 3,000 residents voted in Eagle in the primary, but the permanent Fire override tax levy had fewer than 300 ballots cast. Final tally was 210 in favor and 85 against.

There are 7 polling places in Eagle where people voted in the primary election on candidates for congress, legislature and county offices. Fire commissioners offered only a single location–Fire Station #1– to cast a ballot on the tax override which increased property taxes for everyone.

Eagle Fire Chief Dan Friend defended the single polling place saying, legal notices were posted in the local newspaper and he had spoken to various groups about the measure. He also cited costs of election workers at about $700 per precinct as being a factor in the decision to limit voting to just one location.

The GUARDIAN feels there was unnecessary confusion Tuesday. People simply should not have to drive all over town to vote on each issue. If 7 precincts is appropriate for a primary election, those same 7 precincts are appropriate for an important permanent tax increase.

In their defense, firefighters passed out printed information prior to the election informing people of the single polling place. We think it was inadequate and inappropriate to expect people to make a second trip to vote after voting for primary candidates.

Ada County Clerk and chief county election officer David Navarro agreed with the GUARDIAN saying, “It only makes sense to vote in the same place on the same day. We would have been happy to partner with them so people could vote with just one trip to the polls.”

“There was definite confusion for voters, but Fire Districts conduct their own elections and I absolutely respect that law,” concluded Navarro.

Bottom line: fewer than 10% of the people who ACTUALLY VOTED were able to raise the taxes for 100% of the property owners. The Fire District woul have made a good investment if the voters had the convenience of voting at each of the 7 precincts. Voters got burned.

About 3,000 residents voted in Eagle in the primary, but the permanent Fire override tax levy had fewer than 300 ballots cast. Final tally was 210 in favor and 85 against.

There are 7 polling places in Eagle where people voted in the primary election on candidates for congress, legislature and county offices. Fire commissioners offered only a single location–Fire Station #1– to cast a ballot on the tax override which increased property taxes for everyone.

Eagle Fire Chief Dan Friend defended the single polling place saying, legal notices were posted in the local newspaper and he had spoken to various groups about the measure. He also cited costs of election workers at about $700 per precinct as being a factor in the decision to limit voting to just one location.

The GUARDIAN feels there was unnecessary confusion Tuesday. People simply should not have to drive all over town to vote on each issue. If 7 precincts is appropriate for a primary election, those same 7 precincts are appropriate for an important permanent tax increase.

In their defense, firefighters passed out printed information prior to the election informing people of the single polling place. We think it was inadequate and inappropriate to expect people to make a second trip to vote after voting for primary candidates.

Ada County Clerk and chief county election officer David Navarro agreed with the GUARDIAN saying, “It only makes sense to vote in the same place on the same day. We would have been happy to partner with them so people could vote with just one trip to the polls.”

“There was definite confusion for voters, but Fire Districts conduct their own elections and I absolutely respect that law,” concluded Navarro.

Bottom line: fewer than 10% of the people who ACTUALLY VOTED were able to raise the taxes for 100% of the property owners. The Fire District woul have made a good investment if the voters had the convenience of voting at each of the 7 precincts. Voters got burned.

About 3,000 residents voted in Eagle in the primary, but the permanent Fire override tax levy had fewer than 300 ballots cast. Final tally was 210 in favor and 85 against.

There are 7 polling places in Eagle where people voted in the primary election on candidates for congress, legislature and county offices. Fire commissioners offered only a single location–Fire Station #1– to cast a ballot on the tax override which increased property taxes for everyone.

Eagle Fire Chief Dan Friend defended the single polling place saying, legal notices were posted in the local newspaper and he had spoken to various groups about the measure. He also cited costs of election workers at about $700 per precinct as being a factor in the decision to limit voting to just one location.

The GUARDIAN feels there was unnecessary confusion Tuesday. People simply should not have to drive all over town to vote on each issue. If 7 precincts is appropriate for a primary election, those same 7 precincts are appropriate for an important permanent tax increase.

In their defense, firefighters passed out printed information prior to the election informing people of the single polling place. We think it was inadequate and inappropriate to expect people to make a second trip to vote after voting for primary candidates.

Ada County Clerk and chief county election officer David Navarro agreed with the GUARDIAN saying, “It only makes sense to vote in the same place on the same day. We would have been happy to partner with them so people could vote with just one trip to the polls.”

“There was definite confusion for voters, but Fire Districts conduct their own elections and I absolutely respect that law,” concluded Navarro.

Bottom line: fewer than 10% of the people who ACTUALLY VOTED were able to raise the taxes for 100% of the property owners. The Fire District woul have made a good investment if the voters had the convenience of voting at each of the 7 precincts. Voters got burned.

Idaho is really a state of mind–just like California. “Kalifornikcate” is a state of mind about people and developers ruining a once beautiful spot on earth–regardless of their origins, or the spot.

Based on comments to the GUARDIAN, callers to talk radio, and coffee shop chatter, we see a culture clash that has bubbled to the surface of the of local society as the water rises in the Boise River.

There is a flood of resentment, fear, and envy, as well as more water than greedy developers and homeowners can handle. Old timers secretly revel in the misery of the “rich Californians, who should know better than to buy in a flood plain.” Local officials are defending their decisions to approve revenue producing construction along the river.

Quaint street names with reference to “river, brook, island, stream or creek” have become reality.
Perhaps the most telling sight is a real estate “contract pending” sign surrounded by sandbags–no doubt the sale will go through!

Unlike the Midwest where folks come together routinely to save their communities with sandbags, slave labor from the Ada jail is used to ease the flood threats to homes along the river.

State and Federal water agency folks tend toward, “they built it, it is their responsibility, not ours.” A homeowners group has threatened to sue, but we don’t think they have the cash or the cajones to do it. They sound like playground bullies.

It is hard to generate much sympathy for owners of homes with three car garages, private fishing lakes, walking trails, club houses, and all kinds of private access to the river that many Idahoans consider a public asset for everyone to use.

To build on a flood plain in Idaho is like building in California without regard for earthquakes.

There is no doubt a tendency among the newcomers to look at the old timers as Idaho conservative xenophobic bohunks. (For you non-library types that means hicks who are afraid of outsiders). What they don’t realize is the tremendous impact their arrival has on a community.

Ada County Assessor Bob McQuade told the GUARDIAN many parcels of land will nearly DOUBLE their value in just a single year. That’s good news if you are selling, but if you just want to stay put on a place you own, brace yourselves for tax hikes–offset a little by the new increase in the homeowners exemption. This inflation is caused by the newcomers–mostly Californians.

We can’t blame the Californians for selling their little bungalows in Orange County and moving to their dream home along the river in Eagle, but they create traffic and then demand traffic signals. They get in the path of floodwaters and want to get bailed out. Their elegant (extravagant) homes fan the flames of resentment for those who have to pay increased property taxes, fund school bonds, and deal with traffic while living in modest homes by comparision.

Perhaps “immigration” is also a state of mind.

NOTE–All the photos were recently made in Eagle Island subdivisions.

MEANWHILE IN BOISE…
Here is a little tidbit offered by a reader from the May 5 agenda for the Boise Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. He (or she) claims the area in question is in a floodplain and floodway. Timing is everything. Anyone taking bets?

“CHARTER BUILDERS, LLC requests approval for a Conditional Use Permit to construct a Planned
Development consisting of 80 residential units on ±2.95 acres located at 444 E. Parkcenter Boulevard in an L-OD (Limited Office with Design Review overlay) zone. This includes a request for a height exception. CUP06-00035 Carl Miller”

“CHARTER BUILDERS, LLC requests approval of a variance to construct an underground garage within the Greenbelt setback located at 444 E. Parkcenter Boulevard in an L-OD (Limited Office with Design Review overlay) zone. CVA06-00011 Carl Miller”

“Guardian, I bet your readers would be interested in talking about the threatened lawsuit against the federal and state agencies by the homeowners in Eagle Island arguing that government is not doing enough to stop the flooding. Yes, that’s right, the homeowners who knowingly bought their house in the flood plain plan to sue the government for their predicament.”

It is not nice to fool Mother Nature, but the folks who own those pricey houses in the flood zone on Eagle Island are rattling their upscale sabers with legal threats aimed at the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, EPA, Idaho Water Resources, Ada County, and the City of Eagle.

We hate to quote George Bush, but the GUARDIAN says, “Bring it on!”

If the Island Woods Homeowners Association has enough cash to fund a court battle against the city, county, state AND federal government it will be worth the price of admission to watch. Wonder how many Idaho Natives are in that group!

The heart of their gripe is they want the Boise River diverted from the south channel because their president, Ric Tenner, thinks the north channel should carry 70% of the river flow.

We hate to set up Tenner as a target for GROWTHOPHOBES, but when he went on camera asking to be “saved” he wasn’t generating much sympathy from any of the government folks or those of who can’t affort to live in the hills or along the river.

Gravity lesson for new home owners: Idaho water flows DOWNWARD to the lowest point.

The photos were taken off Park Center Blvd. at Spring Meadow Lane. The original developer was ordered to provide Greenbelt parking and access as a condition of approval for the subdivision.
He complied–three handicap parking spots and a crushed stone pathway for wheel chairs! There are also onerous signs warning of no parking and towing.

The following guest comments probably explain some of the negative sentiments which for the most part were created by development along the flood plain.

“So just how much are all of us who love the Boise River and all of the creeks in Idaho going to have to pay to help out those whose homes are flooding?

We have grown up watching the farmer in Eagle flood out each spring so have not built on the flood plain.

How much do the developers of those communities have to pay….or do they just smile as they keep their fat bank accounts at the expense of the fools who “just love the river” and have to live next to it.

Do you remember when some of the home owners in the Park Center area got into a big snit over the green belt going between their property and the river?

Yes, I guess I do have a few hard feelings toward the people who live next to the river because they have been less than kind about the idea that everyone enjoys the Boise River. It’s just that not everyone thinks a few own the right to exclude others from enjoying it. Nor does everyone think the river should be controlled. It’s a part of nature and nature should not be controlled. It’s not natural and dikes break.”

In a journalistic “coup” (we used to call that a scoop) Cynthia Sewell tells of yet another Arizona developer with plans to pave and populate our once wide open spaces. This time the Arizona guy wants to ruin 6,800 acres of rolling foothills north of Eagle.

You can check out Sewell’s growth story for details, but the GUARDIAN has it on good authority the Arizona land dude is as sharp as the needles on a saguaro cactus. (for you non-library types that’s “suh-worro”)

He is playing Eagle’s feel good happy mayor Nancy Merrill like one of those western swing guitar songs that originated in Arizona and even supports Boise mayor “Team Dave” Bieter on the issue of planned communities being attached to cities and not stand alone like Avimor on Highway 55 at Spring Valley Ranch.

The Arizona guy is selling land to “horse people” and scamming the city of Eagle at the same time. Here’s how it works:

–Eagle is negotiating with the BLM to get nearly 2,000 acres at $10 an acre to “protect” the foothills north of their city with a park. Developer Dude comes in and builds adjacent to the park, offers people miles and miles of “equestrian trails,” and citizens of Eagle foot the bill to develop the park and trail system which will help sell lots. The “equestrian development” would fall flat without Eagle annexing and writing ordinances that allow horses in their city.

–Without annexation the developer would have to provide water, sewer, fire, etc. at his expense. Of course he prefers to be annexed into Eagle over the cost of complying with county ordinances.

Even so, there is an increasing mood among city councilors and mayors in Ada County that if they don’t annex potential development land, it will fall under the rules, laws, plans, and tax revenues of the county–not the cities. They all think they can do a better job than the county when it comes to “good development.” We don’t know the answer to that one, but we fear the county is too eager to approve these “planned communities.”

Planned communities are subdivisions any way you look at them, but they are outside the reaches of the various cities. We are a little vague on this part, but subdivisions of small land parcels are not allowed OUTSIDE cities unless they are part of a PLANNED COMMUNITY. Planned communities are nothing more than subdivisions, but they have token requirements which often fail to meet the spirit of the law.

Some examples are offering “space for fire equipment” but not really building a fire station or providing firemen and trucks, building narrow streets in order to crowd more houses per acre, providing substandard water systems. All this is to get qualified as a planned community for the sake of subdividing.

The developers often pay politicians–usually through money laundering “PACS.” They join and enlist the Chamber of Commerce with promises of “economic growth.” They sponsor romantic getaways at Sun Valley where the developers, contractors, bankers, and other “growthoholics” conspire to screw the rest of us under the guise of “smart blueprints for good growth.”

As long as life in California is more miserable and more expensive than Idaho we can expect to line the pockets of those with enough cash to buy our lifestyle. We can’t blame Brad Little for taking the money and running from a vanishing lifestyle, but growth does NOT equate to IMPROVEMENT.

During the past 10 years as Boise City swung through the suburban jungle unchallenged, it intimidated the surrounding areas and annexed thousands of acres of territory along with the human inhabitants–often against their will.

In this theory of relativity we saw Meridian and Nampa evolve from humans to little monkeys, into agile chimps. They looked at the big gorilla and decided they too could grow up to be strong, powerful and dominant.

Thus THE MONKEY WARS began.

–First it was the little human homeowners who protested against being annexed into Boise. The big gorilla proved he could sit anywhere he wished and slapped down the homeowners.

–Then, the little monkeys of Star and Eagle wouldn’t play nice and tried to steal each other’s food in the form of annexation battles along Highway 16. Both want to evolve into chimps and get bigger like Meridian.

–Meridian outgrew its monkey suit, has evolved into a BIG chimp and may even evolve into a gorilla soon like its neighbor to the west, Nampa.

–The Kuna monkey is getting really frisky, wants to become a chimp and challenge Meridian. The Kuna monkey took a lesson from the Boise gorilla and said, “We can’t stop annexing!” They are fighting over monkey food–tax revenues–with Meridian.

–The Boise gorilla was unhappy when the Ada gorilla (an endangered species) fathered a new monkey in the form of the Avimor planned community–really a subdivision in monkey clothing. Boise took them to court. The Ada gorilla sighed like a frustrated parent.

–That prompted the Star monkey to run in and poke the Boise gorilla in his big hairy butt by pulling out of Blue Print For Smart Growth which is a phony plan to preserve habitat for monkeys, chimps and gorillas, but not the endangered humans.

–All the monkeys and chimps were happy when the Boise gorilla gave buses tothe regional transit system that can’t remember its own name, but the Garden City chimp went into a snit when it had to pay, so he went home and said, “take this bus and shove it.!”

–The Boise gorilla fights with everyone, but ALWAYS with the motherly Ada County Highway District gorilla. The ACHD and Boise gorillas have a common law marriage, but dad cheats on her and threatens divorce each election season. The ACHD gorilla still washes his clothes and prepares his meals, but the spark has faded from their relationship.

–It is obvious that you can’t put diverse species of apes in the same monkey cage or they will make life miserable for each other.

All this monkey business proves annexation law that allows sub divisions only in cities and enables cities to annex at will, leads us to one conclusion:

The Treasure Valley monkey JUNGLE will soon become an urban ZOO!

A proposed high end development in Eagle built around a designer golf course along with a designer swimming, tennis, and soccer sports programs is a far cry from Boise’s penchant for “infill.” Boise provides those amenities at taxpayer expense.

Both philosophies have the same goal: accommodate developers and increase tax revenues. To increase revenues you either raise prices or increase volume.

Eagle may have found a dirty little secret as they cater to big houses on big lots. Here is a simplistic, but accurate example of how it works:

EAGLE divides 10 acres into 10 parcels with $1 million homes. They collect taxes on $10 million worth of property and provide roads, sewer, schools, sidewalks, and water lines to 20 people.

BOISE divides the 10 acres into 40 parcels with $150,000 homes. They collect taxes on $6 million worth of real estate, but serve 80 people…four times the people for almost half assessed the value. This results in higher tax rates in Boise.

Part of Boise’s desire to cram more houses into existing neighborhoods is to increase the tax revenue–make up in volume what they lose in price. If they can jam 80 homes into that 10 acres they can grab taxes on $12 million worth of real estate value, BUT they have to serve 160 people.

Boise officials think it is a good deal because the roads, sewers, schools, sidewalks and water lines cost the same if used by 20 people in Eagle or 160 in Boise.

The result is Boise has even more $150,000 houses–and people who can afford them. Folks who don’t want to rub elbows with the neighbors and grow a garden not shaded by a two story “skinny house” flee the city, but come back in the daily commute to earn a living.

Eagle would be hard pressed to “lower” its standards and Boise is finding it a difficult sell to “raise” its standards with the perceived “need” to increase density to increase the bottom line.

Meanwhile, when you read reports on the Wednesday IDAHO ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM discussion about “infill” bear in mind there is a fair amount of incest.

Here is a rundown of speakers:

GARY ALLEN is a lawyer who represents developer BILL CLARK who is a director of Idaho Smart Growth which employs ELAINE CLEGG who is on the City Council which employs Planning Director BRUCE CHATTERTON who works with neighborhood association advocate ELLIOT WERK who is also a state senator.

Who’s your daddy?