Limit all U.S. politicians to two terms..
One in office
One in prison
Detroit and Chicago already do this.

ONE READER SENDS: How is it that county commissioners are forgiving property taxes for some, especially farmers, but refusing to lower taxes for everybody else? Driving by the latest golf course, I wondered what has happened so I started asking questions. The story is the previous owner, who is a big area farmer, sold the land, for the golf course but got it back when the golf course developer went broke. The farmer then goes to commissioners and gets thousands of dollars in taxes forgiven just by asking. Nothing was presented showing other properties like the golf course set at lower tax rates. The ground sure is for development and cannot be farmed again. He wants to hold out for better times but not pay the set taxes. Get this. Our farmer commissioner initiated the give away for her friend. It's not what you know but who you know. Please check this out. It just recently happened.

COMMENTS: I'll do that but until CCW checks this out I deleted the farmers name.
CCW does not understand how this could have happened recently since it is not time for tax hearings yet. We will check it out. Commissioners will have a hard time justifying raising the levy or increasing taxes, if they are reducing taxes for some, after those taxes have been set by the county. That would be unfair and we hope you are wrong. CW has been hearing the county officials are still cutting positions and taking other steps to reduce spending so why would they lower taxes for individuals? The county can forgive taxes if a real proven hardship is presented to them.

ONE READER SENDS: Hey, can't we all just be friends? We should build more and more jails 'cause jails keeps us folks safe, didn't you all know that?

COMMENTS: You must have more money than you know what to do with. Young families especially are having a hard time keeping up with all the taxes they must pay. Families should not have to sacrifice and take from families to give to government. It's especially nice to have property taxes due five days before Christmas.

ONE READER SENDS: Who is responsible for stopping the county from throwing our money away? What happened to the lawsuit about the jail costs before a bond? I read about some litigation but never heard what happened.

COMMENT: Those involved in that litigation did go before a judge for a summary judgement hearing. The county commissioners did the same thing they did prior to them having to go before the Supreme Court on a similar issue. Commissioners take just enough steps to be able to plead with the court to throw the case out claiming the matter is moot because they did this or that. Prior to the Supreme Court hearing the county lied and said the ground in question was sold. The case was then dismissed with no answer given by the justices. The land was not sold. Compare the date of the Supreme Court hearing to the date when the land was sold. The county lied to the Supreme Court and didn't bat an eye while doing it. This last case in District Court was dismissed when Comm. Ferdinand provided the judge with an affidavit saying the county would never us the pay as you go method again. The judge says the question is then moot because the county won't do it again and the official question asked about commissioners not following the State Constitution is never answered.

Think about this. Comm. Ferdinand's affidavit said the county wouldn't use the pay as they go system again. That means we won our case which said the county could not legally use the pay as they go system. The county admitted they were spending money with no vote of the people as required in the Constitution. But the county knew a judge would side with them if they gave that judge any shred of argument so the case could be thrown out so the admitted what they had done. They got away with it and will get away with it in the future. End of argument. We've been had one more time.

ONE READER SENDS: While reading all the hype about Canyon Co needing a new jail, I've learned that jails cost a lot of money to build and to operate. As I have talked against building more jails in Canyon Co. I've been accused of being soft on crime and smears have been hurled at me saying I don't know what I'm talking about. Now we are being told by Comm. Rule that private business owners have offered to build a jail and lease it to the county. Comm. Rule has also claimed the commissioners are working to cut the bond down by millions of dollars.

Here's my question while some are hurling nasty threats at anyone who don't want more jails. If the commissioners can run a bond for millions less, why were we asked for 43,000,000.00 on the last bond? It is clear the commissioners now will come back with a plan to build a jail for less since they think a bond for 43,000,000.00 wont's pass! Seems to me that commissioners are trying to get the most money possible and those amounts have nothing at all to do with the actual cost of building a new jail.

Why weren't we told about business owners who offered to build a jail? Comm. Rule seems to be the spokesman for county commissioners about jails. I suggest some of those ignorant people trying to scare people who don't like the way people are locked up, throw some of your threats at Comm. Rule and his buddies.

Some are trying to make us believe this bond issue for a jail has been well planned out and well thought out, only asking for the rock bottom amount needed. Now, a different, lower amount will suffice. The jail we got now is all cleaned up so that is where law enforcement needs to put people. No one is closing down our jail.

COMMENTS: CCW has to agree with this post. Our jail is clean and it needs to have maintenance all the time to make certain the money spent to clean it up was not wasted. Concerning this bond issue, County commissioners are not spending their own money so they practice with our money. It doesn't bother them if they are wrong or if the people say no. They just come up with some other plan claiming they got it right this time. Now, we are being told that regional jails won't work for our county because we need a jail now. CCW does not know if they remember that a jail will take years to build and Ada Co. claims they could need a regional jail with Canyon Co. as soon as two years.

It is the opinion of CCW that we need to just keep saying no on this jail building until our commissioners give us all the truth prior to a bond vote. We are learning now about all kinds of information we were not given prior to the last vote.

This is a good example of why a county SHOULD NOT PURCHASE LAND FOR A NEW JAIL PRIOR TO A BOND ISSUE PASSING!!!! Now a regional jail is a possibility with Ada Co. and the location on 20/26 won't work for a regional jail. So, in order to share costs with Ada Co. we will need to sell the land we purchased because Ada Co. wants a regional jail built at the county line with Canyon Co. as it should be. CCW wonders if elected officials know what is said about their lack of expertise and fiscal responsibility.

The land at 20/26 should not have been purchased prior to a bond just as the land for a new fair grounds should not have been purchased prior to having the money to build a new fair grounds. The county does this stuff to bring pressure on tax payers but the tax payers have begun to figure out the games played by elected officials.

EDITORIAL:

People working in public service ([paid by public funds) simply should not insult the public. If you do not like the vote on the jail bond, get out and work harder than those who are satisfied with the vote. That's the way this great country works. There's no free ride. Quit insulting people and stick with the facts. Many people do not want more jail cells because we do not want more people thrown into jail. This country throws more people into jail than any other country IN THE WORLD. Some of us don't like the fact and it has very little to do with the cost of building or running jails. We don't like giving money to put people in jail. No amount of insults or threats will change that.

National data shows jails breed criminals. What part of that fact makes people want to build more jails? National data shows the recidivism rate is outrageous so jailing people simply keeps them off the street.The number of vicious criminals who need to be locked up are a small percentage of who is really locked up. So, sorry if some of us aren't lining up to shove people into jail.

Now, let's address those few people in law enforcement who have insulted the public and tried to scare people who worked to defeat the jail bond. 90% of those working in law enforcement at all levels are good, honest, hard working public servants. 10% are egomaniacs who have given themselves permission to try to threaten and intimidate the public. The people I know who voted no on the jail bond, respect law enforcement and appreciate the hard work they do to keep us safe. However, deputies keeping us safe has little to do with running a jail. Judges sentence people to jail after they have heard a case. One of the main things law enforcement does to keep the public safe is being seen out in public. A huge amount of people who interface with law enforcement are fined not taken to jail.

CCW feels better sounding off about this jail bond. People should be able to work together for the good of our county and not go head to head when we don't agree on a vote. Surely we are bigger than that.

ONE READER SENDS: In a meeting I attended I heard Sheriff Smith speak about a regional jail being built . Some guys were talking with him about jobs at that jail so I thought it was almost built then between Nampa and Caldwell. Now I heard a bond for a jail was defeated in Canyon Co. Did the regional jail get built or was the bond for the regional jail?

COMMENTS: CCW wishes you had included a date as to when the meeting you attended was held. Back in 2006 the county commissioners planned to build a jail (justice center) between Nampa and Caldwell. However, there were legal questions about the commissioners way of purchasing the land and litigation followed. That land was sold and the next plan is for a jail to be built on the west side of Caldwell. Possibly that jail is being considered for a regional jail but all the information which was made public about a regional jail was an essay by our sheriff printed on an Assoc. of Idaho Sheriff's website. If people were talking with our sheriff about jobs, perhaps they wanted to be first in line if a regional jail was built. That possibility is still open and perhaps we will hear more about regional jails prior to another bond election. CCW has had a number of positive comments about the possibility of a regional jail where several counties pay for the use of that jail.

ONE READER SENDS: Jails are ordinary and necessary. They've been around forever. We got to lock up the crooks so the rest of us are safe. I'm for building a big new jail with an area for target practice if the crooks get out of line. All you guys are just soft on crime.

EDITORIAL: We have certainly been called worse! If so many jails are necessary, why aren't the statistics different? Why do so many inmates return to crime just as soon as they are released? CCW guesses if people want to pay to keep locking up the same people over and over, you probably have more money than you know what to do with. The cost of housing prisoners is extraordinarily high when compared to providing rehab. If we pay for rehab facilities, then we have a chance to change some lives and keep them out of prison and supporting their own families so you and I don't have to shoulder that cost. Remember, when you lock up a breadwinner for a family, someone must pick up that cost. It makes the matter of running a jail very costly. Who pays for welfare assistance to families without a bread winner?
You and I.

The cost of a jail, is not just what happens in that jail. When a breadwinner is locked up the costs are staggering and all that must be considered as cost for the operation of a jail. Helping someone get well can keep that person out of jail forever.

EDITORIAL: If people in this county do not take the time to speak up, we are going to find ourselves paying to get all our cars inspected. Please email, write or call your local legislator concerning this matter. They have passed laws and are looking to pass more laws this legislative session which will affect Canyon
Co. and our ability to decide for ourselves whether or not to require emissions testing.

EDITORIAL: Please call Director Hardesty at DEQ and give her your ideas about DEQ imposing emissions testing on Canyon County since we have presented DEQ with varous options instead of emissions testing.

Here's her number: 208-373-0502

Ask to speak to the director about this issue which is coming at us full force. Don't wait.

EDITORIAL: Canyon County is asleep at the wheel!! If we don't wake up and speak out, we are going to have emission controls shoved down our proverbial necks and we are going to pay, pay. pay. Now we just begged the county to NOT tax us more for a new jail, and here comes the state of Idaho wanting...no not wanting...they are going to force us to take every vehicle we are driving to get it tested for car emissions.

WHY? There is only one reason, the DEQ and COMPAS are going to insist on emission testing in our county. The State of Idaho agreed to some conditions years ago to get clean air litigation settled between the state and federal government. The State of Idaho, DEQ , agreed they would have car emission testing in place in Canyon County within a certain number of years. They wanted out from under that clean air litigation in the worst way. Guess what!!! That time has come.

Two residents in our county has studied emission testing and worked tirelessly to help people understand that we are being led down the lane CCW calls "the pure bull land." They have brought us the facts and they have seen to it that all politicians have these facts. At least, if our politicians do not fight this and SAVE us from emission testing, these same politicians will not be able to say they didn't know what they were doing.

Canyon County Commissioners have taken a stand against forcing citizens to have our cars tested every year, paying money to the government so they can set up but another bureaucracy. The commissioners deserve our thanks for they are fighting for the people and has come up with their own way to handle this situation. DEQ and COMPAS are not inclined to allow Canyon Co. any time to try their ideas. Who would understand collecting money to keep a government agency afloat better than COMPAS??? They are the biggest leech on people's back and completely useless in the entire scheme of things.

First and foremost, Canyon County residents need to know that DEA is not abiding by the law. When they break any part of the law, they strike out. But only if the people stand up and scream bloody murder. We must follow all laws and so must they. We need to shout it out to the DEQ. You made the deal, you get yourself out of trouble and leave us to our own plans in Canyon County.

Although, CCW usually sticks totally to county business...this matter needs the mayors, city councilmen and all government authority to take a stand and tell DEQ they are not going to get the feds off their backs.

HB586 is the legal basis of DEQ's imposition of Vehicle Emissions Control onto the citiizens of Canyon County. The subject of this law is very clearly stated in the opening line of this law. "Section39-116B. VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM."

This first paragraph is extremely important. There are two items to note specifically. 1) THE EPA DETERMINES ATTAINMENT OR UNCLASSIFIED AREAS AND 2)implementation of the rule to implement VET is subject to two conditions. Of course, it is inherent that the director's determination be based on factual scientific truths, not a political agenda.

"1) The board (Idaho Board of Environmental Quality) shall initiate rule making to provide for the implementation of a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program (VET) to regulate and ensure control of the air pollutants and emissions from registered motor vehicles in an attainment (ADA) or unclassified area (Canyon) as designated by the United States environmental protection agency. (EPA)..if the director determines the following conditions are met:

a)An air shed, as defined by the department (DEQ), within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), as defined by the United States office of management and budget (OMB) has ambient concentration design values equal to or above eighty-five percent (85%) of a national ambient air quality standard (,064 ppm of the 075 ppm ozone standard) as defined by the United States environmental protection agency (EPA) for three (3) consecutive years (Implied 2006-2007-2008 with status to be determined in 2009) starting with the 2005 design value (080 ppm for ozone) and ....

(b) The department (DEQ) determines air pollutants from motor vehicles constitute one (1) of the top two emission sources contributing to the design value of eighty-five percent (85%)

2) In the even both of the conditions in subsection (1) of this section are met...

(3) In the event both of the conditions is subsection (1) of this section are met..

The law is adamant that both conditions (a) and (b) must be met in order for the law to be enforceable.

Both conditions are not met but for some reason DEQ thinks they don't have to abide by the laws.

CCW cannot help but remember back several years when Idaho Power thought they were going to walk over the top of people in Canyon Co. NOT!!! Director Hardesty you need to remember who you serve. You serve the people and you are setting a very bad example for a state agency sworn to uphold the law.

Tomorrow CCW will provide readers some phone numbers where readers can call to the director of the DEQ and tell her what you think of their actions. Phone calls from the public are extremely important when you want your voice to be heard. (Ask Idaho Power if they want to deal with Canyon Co. agian.) Let's invite Director Hardesty over to meet with Canyon Co. residents and explain to us why she wants to control what happens in this county. If she can prove that the DEQ will make a difference worth the amount she is trying to take from citizens, we will have an open mind. Director's need to earn the huge salaries they take home each month. How about it Canyon Co. Think we can get her over here for a town hall meeting. CCW doesn't want the director's flunkies to look us in the eye and tell us they are going to break the law and force emission controls on Canyon County.

Automobile builders have installed emission controls for years. Sorry DEQ...they beat you to it.

EDITORIAL: How much political spin existed prior to the bond election? Some times CCW walks into information that surprises us. This happened today.

When speaking to Ada Co. Sheriff's office today, CCW asked how many outstanding warrants they have in Ada Co. Would you believe they have over 20,000 out standing FELONY warrants. That number only include misdemeanor warrants if that misdemeanor involved violence.

How many inmates can be locked up at one time in Ada Co. 1,000 beds in Ada Co. Considering their huge population compared to Canyon Counties population, it seems we are right on tracks with the number of beds we have available, especially if the work release center beds are included.

That brings us back to the SPIN. Our county commissioners used our number of cells, or beds in our jail many times in the same sentence with our number of unserved warrants. CCW heard that 7,000 unserved warrant number in all kinds of spin. Politicians spin information. Sometimes spin is so camouflaged you really have to pay attention to catch it but you don't have to watch O'Riley on Fox to observe the art of political spin. It's alive and well in Canyon Co. with our SPINNNING COMMISSIONERS.

ONE READER SENDS: Blake Hall has been entrenched at the top of the Republican Party here in Idaho and also at the national level. He has been a responsible leader and does not deserve the harassment he is enduring now at the hands of a local judge who should know better. If they can put Blake in jail, no one is safe from the over-zealous cops. How can anybody prove they are being stalked? In her dreams!!! A man of Blake's stature does not need to stalk women. What is this country coming to? And down there in Canyon Co. (where I used to live) you all want to build a bigger jail!!! I hate jails. Judges are people just like you and I and they should not have the power to lock up out standing citizens. You should forget spending any more money on a jail.

COMMENTS: When this post first came in, CCW didn't know exactly what this reader was referring to but after doing some research CCW found that Blake Hall is in jail in Idaho Falls. He pleaded guilty to stalking a young woman and is doing some time in jail and then will be on probation for some more set time.


whether or not this man has been, in this readers mind, a responsible leader in the Republican party, seems to make no difference since he pleaded GUILTY. Who knows whether or not law enforcement had a lot more than stalking on this man and he was allowed to plea bargain down to stalking. CCW will do some more checking and get back to readers with the rest of the story.

CCW agrees with the reader on one point. We don't need a larger jail in Canyon Co. We have plenty of room to lock up violent people who should be locked up. Since the ACLU has capped the number of prisoners allowed in our jail, the court system and county commissioners have been forced into a corner and must make some alternative, appropriate changes to sentencing people in our county.

ONE READER SENDS: I don't think judges can require a new jail. They can only act when an outside party files a complaint or cause of action which then goes before a judge. But, if the county would file an action seeking judicial confirmation to build a new jail, then a judge could sign off demanding a new jail. I might be wrong, but I don't think judges can simply act on their own "creating" a court case. I do understand the problem when judges hand down sentences and their is no room for that sentence to be carried out. I'll do some more research and see what I can find out

COMMENTS: CCW will also ask some more questions. But...judges have a lot of power. Some of that power goes unused because certain problems don't arise. However, it stands to reason that if a judge sentences a person to jail time, they should be able to force the case of jail availability. No one but a judge can sentence people to jail time. If the jail can't hold anymore prisoners, judges probably have the power to change that picture. We've just never seen it used. Judges also could "coach" the county to submit a complaint to the court about the lack of space in a jail. Let us know what you find out.l

ONE READER SENDS: What happened to cause four planning and zoning commissioners to quit all at the same time, shortly after the director of DSD resigned? I've asked around and everything is hush hush. They are claiming these guys are personnel of the county. They are paid a stipend for their time as volunteers and provided a small meal prior to meetings. This does not make them county employees and they are not protected under the same rules as employees. The public has a right to know what happened since these commissioners are volunteer public servants. What are the county commissioners worried about? What has CCW heard about this issue?

COMMENTS: CCW has already posted some information concerning the sudden departure of the latest DSD Director. CCW felt that this guy had attachments to private construction firms which created quite a conflict of interest on his part. He was also attempting to make some questionable changes to the way the P&Z commissioners dealt with certain issues and he hit a solid wall of power from the county commissioners as did the P&Z Commissioners.

Getting on the wrong side of the most powerful block of republicans in Canyon Co. (three county commissioners) is not good for ones working status!!! And word has it that is what both the director and the four volunteer P & Z planners learned real quick.

More on this matter as we learn the rest of this story.

In some of the claims flying around since the election, somebody claimed the public had played right "into the hands of the ACLU" by voting no on the jail bond. That statement simply does not hold up to the light of day.

Why are the ACLU even involved in this jail issue? Because the county threatened the people with the ACLU so loud and so long, that finally the boogeyman came right over the hill and pounced on Canyon County. We went through this same thing when the tent jail was built. If we didn't build the tent jail, the ACLU was coming to cap our numbers in the jail. Canyon County cried wolf long enough and finally the wolf swallowed this county. We will be under the eyes of the ACLU for a long time but no one is to blame but the county commissioners.

You see. With as much power as commissioners have there is also a lot of responsibility. So, if an inmates complaint is treated more seriously than it was in the past, just thank the commissioners for their failure to do what is required of them by law. County commissioners are responsible for building a jail and taking care of that jail (it is called maintenance)!!! The failure to do this is why the ACLU is breathing down the counties neck.

In a recent news article it was mentioned that a judge could end this entire question about whether or not tax payers should build a new jail in Canyon County. "The people" have voted not to build a new jail.
However, if the courts sincerely believe a new jail must be built to incarcerate people, in order to keep Canyon County safe, then judges are exactly who should be responsible for demanding that jail be built. Judges sentence people to certain sentences and demand certain crimes have certain consequences. Idaho laws guide judges. If judges think their sentences cannot be carried out, because a jail is too small, they can certainly act.

The job of a deputy is to apprehend suspects and to operate the jail. This is outlined clearly in Idaho Statutes. It is not the job of deputies to get jails built. When did that job get placed on the backs of deputies who already have the most dangerous jobs in the country? Sure, deputies want people they arrest to go to jail. Usually, if they need to be in jail, that is where the deputy takes that person after an arrest is made. It is not the job of that deputy to see to it that a jail is built large enough to hold those arrested.

Judges pass sentences. There are many alternatives to placing people in jail. Deputies do not decide whether jail or an alternative to jail is used. JUDGES decide. Once again, if Judges decide to force people
to pay enough taxes to build a jail, Judges can do that. This is a negative, hot political issue and Judges do not like to step up to the plate, but that is exactly who can force this issue.

The following is the "strategy" used by CCW to help get out the vote for or against the bond issue. Sometimes the most basic strategy can result in getting many people to the polls who might have sat with there feet up if not reminded of the serioiius question before us.

FIRST STRATEGY: Have mass email addresses set up to send out information to members of the public who had expressed an interest in the election.

The most important information used for this strategy to defeat this bond election was handed to us by the county commissioners. Each claim they made, beginning in May, 2009 was compared to county documents, including minutes of their own meetings. If commissioners were saying one thing one day and something else the next, emails went out to alert voters to the discrepancy.

Over 13 different times, county commissioners gave a different set of numbers when telling the public how many inmates the county facilities could hold. Sometimes they added the beds from the work release center, and sometimes they didn't. But, rarely did the county commissioners give any detail about why the work release center was hardly ever even 1/2 full.

SECOND STRATEGY: Emails went out with facts which had been made in claims by county commissioners prior to the building of the tent jail. The public was promised all kinds of promises prior to that facility being built. We had sworn testimony from elected officials making these promises none of which happened. Why trust commissioners now if they didn't do what they said they would do previously?

THIRD STRATEGY: People came up with the idea of each voter taking at least one other voter to the polls, three or four people if possible. When you can do that, you double your voting power.

FOURTH STRATEGY: Reminding people of what could happen in such a bad recession as we are in right now. This took very little work since many people were expecting failure from the federal government at great cost to the pubic.

FIFTH STRATEGY: Reminding people to vote absentee and reminding them how to go about absentee voting. This involved many senior citizens.

Although CCW has received several cautions telling us not to tell what works during election time, CCW only gives time working on county issues to encourage good government. We are not running a negative campaigns against government. We want to see our local government become not only responsible in their actions, but OPEN when they take any action. We've had numerous calls this weekend about the counties recent announcement concerning Enterprise Zones. DAVE FERDINAND HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS!!!!!!! Again, the public is the last to know.

Just as the two major political parties have learned to use the Internet as a vast money making tool, "the people" too have learned how to use the Internet as a way of getting information to a large number of people to influence an election. It works.

EDITORIAL:

Listening to and reading all the post-election comments makes a common, ordinary citizen wonder if county commissioners think the public is stupid.

CCW did have a stratigy we used for months and months leading up to this election. Soon, we will go through our strategy, step by step, so readers can understand why we worked to defeat the bond issue, at this time. Keep checking back for the rest of this story.

ONE READER SENDS: I feel a bit better about the other county departments since the jail bond failed. If they could have built a different jail, we all knew us working at the courthouse would have been short-changed and have to give up staff in our departments to run that jail. Thank you 661/3.

COMMENT: CCW knows Noel Hales had those same concerns when he was a seated recorder. He felt all departments would have been short changed if the Justice Center would have gone through. Let's see how this whole mess shakes out.

From articles in today's Press Tribune, questions have surfaced. Commissioners seem to think they submitted an article explaining MYTHS (opponents) FACTS (county commissioners)

Soooooooo......Let's look at some of the commissioners FACTS!!! (PRECEEDED ONLY BY MYTHS)

MYTH: A new jail wouldn't be necessary if we'd incarcerate only the real bad guys. (Opponents know county commissioners want to lock up everybody and throw away the key, but first let's look at their claims.)

FACT: On Oct. 1, the jail held ....4 accused of murder....42 some sort of battery...21 sex crimes....9 drive by shootings...3 robbery...3 rape...three kidnapping...51 with felony probation and parole.

Let's see!!!! That accounts for the grand total of 135 total bad guys so deemed by County Commissioners on Oct. 1, 2009.

If the total cells available is 350 that leaves 224 cells empty, if of course we only lock up the bad guys.
224 empty cells after we have locked up commissioners "bad guys".

Commissioner FACT finders down 135. MYTHs win again by 224!!!

FACT BY OPPONENTS: A new jail is not necessary, even if we lock up only the bad guys.

(In a recent letter to the editor in the Western Chronicle, Comm. Ferdinand called out an honest, good man and called him a liar. Mr. Ferdinand should be real careful when he calls name.)

GIVE US BREAK!!!

COMMENTS: CCW had previously posted that we would only address jail bond issues after the vote on the bond was over. When reading in Sunday's paper "Myths about specifics need to be clarified" remaining quiet was no longer a possibility. The following is CCW's viewpoint about what is a myth and what is yet more political spin.

First CCW must clear up one issue. Commissioners claim "We've seen that when people actually learn the facts about the jail bond, they overwhelmingly agree that the rhetoric of the bond's opponents is based on myths and assumptions. Commissioners are still not addressing facts about this jail, Because statements are made by commissioners does not make those statements fact. More likely, commissioners dance around issues, such as the likelihood Canyon Co will be the location of a regional jail. There is nothing factual about their response when asked about a regional jail. The just don't answer the question. Opponents claims are not meaningless rhetoric just because they don't agree with an elected official. So, the very introduction from county commissioners in their article in the paper is not factual.

Commissioners claim as MYTH the opponents claim that:

... The jail bond is not financially sound and isn't much different than the previous bond that failed in 2006.

FACT: We are in the worst recession since 1930. Public money over and above basis, required spending, should be returned to the public in tax cuts. In 2006 the bond asked for more than $ 72 Million but that was to build a Justice Center, which included a jail. Commissioners then presented a drawing in much greater detail than what we are being shown today for this new jail project. In 2006 drawings, tax payers could tell the county was asking for brick buildings and large, spacious courtrooms and admin. offices. When commissioners realized that the eloquence of that project probably helped shoot it down, they decided to show quite a different drawing of this proposed jail. We can't tell if the jail will be tip out concrete because the sketch is vague. Commissioners claim the jail will have tipped cement walls. The truth is, once commissioners get their hands on bond money, this jail could be built how ever commissioners want it built. If they decided not to build tip out cement, all they would need to do is inform people they have changed their minds. Actually, they don't even need to tell voters they changed their minds. Once voters give them that money to spend....watch out.

This set of commissioners claim previous commissioners who were responsible for building the Dale Hale Jail, did not know what they were doing and did not plan an adequate design for enlargement in the future. All three of those commissioners (1993) were business owners and were extremely conservative with taxpayers money. It just does not equate that their plan was inadequate. Those commissioners hired the same engineering firm today's commissioners have hired and the same architect hired by today's commissioners.

So, who are the commissioners making decisions about the building of this jail. We have one farmer and two other commissioners who have failed in their attempt to operate a business, winding up, both of them bankrupt.

Commissioners claim as MYTH opponents claim that:

It would cost less to expand the existing jail, or build a new jail in the neighborhood north of the existing jail.

FACT: When a new jail was first discussed, the city of Caldwell was anxious to keep the jail in the same location because of course, the jail brings a lot of business to Caldwell. The city offered to use Urban Renewal money to level two city blocks considered blight and also an offer was made to give the county VanBuren school. Cooperation from the city would have vastly curtailed the cost of a new jail for taxpayers. Not one time have taxpayers been given hard fast data showing how much it would cost
to clear some area and build an addition where the jail is now. They claim it would cost 10 Million to purchase and and 2 more Million to demolish homes. Not one time has a single taxpayer seen on paper, estimates from professionals showing how much money it would take to build a jail in place. Although commissioners claim this location was studied at length but we are asked to take commissioners word for what they are telling us. A COMMISSIONER'S WORD IS NOT FACT!!!

Commissioners claim as myth opponents claim that:

...Canyon Co. is planning to build a regional jail that would benefit surrounding counties at our expense

Instead of telling what has been discussed about a regional jail, commissioners just gloss over that issue and dish out more rhetoric. CCW stands by the claim that a regional jail will be at the 20/26 location if commissioners can get a bond passed. We'll have the "shovel in the ground" and be the first "ready" for a regional jail. CCW also stands by the fact that the Owyhee Co. has already started talks with Canyon Co. about this very issue.

Commissioners claim as myth opponents claim that:

..a new jail would not be necessary if only the " real bad" guys were locked up.

CCW and opponents stand by our claim that alternative methods work fine and then we do not have to
pay for inmates living in the jail. These county commissioners claim that locking up people required us to build a new jail is pure fallacy. A felony does not mean an inmate has committed a crime which has caused physical harm to the public. Lock up inmates who have a record of physically harming people. Use alternative sentences on inmates who have committed crimes against property. The counties own numbers prove opponents claims.

Locking up people does not deter them from committing crimes. Locking them up helps them learn how to commit crimes more efficiently.

Get Real County Commissioners. When you refuse to investigate data about how jails cause more problems in society, the public has no chance of getting that FACT through your sculls. Commissioners are perpetuating crime in our county by locking up everyone arrested.

Commissioners claim we don't hold enough illegal aliens to make any difference in prison numbers only opens another door to a more serious question. If the public reads the jail roster, it is very clear that one race of people are arrested more than white people in this county. If they are not illegal aliens, are we then a bunch of racists in this county?

ONE READER SENDS: Back when the Dale Hale was built out, we passed a bond then too. I don't remember all the issues that came up then but I remember massive cost over rides by builders and
I also remember a law suit against the county for more money. Gov. has deep pockets and buillders will
do the same thing to us now. Just watch them.

COMMENTS: Oh, yes. Cost overrides. When and if our county commissioners can get their hands of 43M, it will be next to impossible to keep track of the spending of that money. It is one of the many hazzard of giving your money to a government agency.

ONE READER SENDS: Building more jails, to lock up more criminals, defeats the purpose. We have to have commissioners smarter than the criminals before the right things will be done in Can. Co.

COMMENTS: Serious, chronic, violent offenders should be behind bars.
That expense is justifiable. We are warehousing those with mental health problems and drug abusers. US prisons are bigger than the populations of some smaller states and the costs of prisons is more than the entire budget for the state of Missouri. We started in about 1986 locking up more and more people for crimes which could have been handled outside the prisons.

Commissioners are obligated to provide a place for violent criminals. They need to lock up those who would use force against another or defraud a person. But people charged with non-violent crimes
do not need to be locked up in a prison.

We do not have an unsafe jail for employees. CCW has been contacted by many who work in the jail right now and another who previously worked in the jail. There is rarely ever a case in the entire history of the Canyon Co. jail where employees were placed at any risk. Then the risk pertained to health issues. We have no way of knowing whether or not the same medical risks will be available in a new jail since many think because commissioners did not maintain his jail, it won't be long before the new jail is a real mess. If not liking to work in a place that needs a paint job or has developed other problems from a lack of maintenance, or a lack of installation of cameras and mirrors, then commissioners are to blame and need to use county money to make the places frequented by employees in a jail area, safe. Just because commissioners turned a blind eye to a lack of maintenance, is not a reason to build a new jail. It should have never happened.

If people are interested in why the Dale Hale jail has deteriorated, ask to read the reports made by commissioners after they visit the jail, quarterly. Commissioners consistently report that everything in the jail is great and if a communicable disease is or has been present, they have a name for that kind of risk calling it a jail house risk or some other name which tells you they don't give a darn about personnel or prisoners or the tax paying public. When reading those reports one would never get the opinion that the jail has any problems. COMMISSIONERS CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

If employees are complaining of feeling ill because of a lack of ventilation, then the commissioners are going to have to install a new ventilation system. Commissioners know exactly when problems were reported and when reading their reports, it is easy to see how long they have been ignoring certain problems. Commissioners are the ones stating they are going to leave the women prisoners behind in the Dale Hale Jail. Surely, they won't leave them behind to breathe bad air!!! For their failure to act, Rule and Ferdinand should resign. Then the public might get behind a bond for a new jail.
Tax payers do not need to build new jails because ventilation systems break down.

ONE READER SENDS: I attended at least two forums when Kathy Alder was running for commissioner. Both times I heard her say she was against a new jail and against the location they are now purposing.
I voted for her because she agreed with my view. Now she's working for a new jail at the spot she previously claimed was bad. Is there anyway to hold these politicians to their word?

COMMENTS: CCW knows of no way to enforce campaign promises. A lot of people are visibly upset about Kathy's change of heart but we all did the best we could to get a commissioner in place we thought would protect the people and not put political spin on information. CCW feels as bad as anybody because we worked hard to get her elected. CCW does hold her feet to the fire and emails her sometimes several times a day seeking information. She is living up to that campaign promise to respond when asked questions from constituents. She usually answers email questions rapidly and we appreciate that effort.
Why don't you email her at the county and ask for an explanation about her switching her views?

EDITORIAL: What in the world happened to remove DSD Director Forrey from office so quickly? On Friday AM he quickly resigned from his job and was not seen again. He resigned, however, after a visit with the County Commissioners.

CCW can just imagine how that visit went!!! One more time county commissioners thought they could do anything they wanted, even hiring a person who only recently appeared before them representing an application for a big subdivision near this counties largest dairy. That applicant, wanted to build a subdivision with riding paths, and all kinds of amenities for subdivision owners. One problem was to be able to enjoy all the perks, an owner would have, they would have to wear nose plugs to keep from smelling the sweet aroma caused by milk cows nearby.

We can just imagine, when the economy picks up, that application will be coming back before the Commissioners with many complaints about the dairy which was in existence years before the subdivision applied to build in Canyon Co. Would kickbacks take place? Don't forget that Comm. Rule was recently name one of the Worst Persons In The World on NBC World News for decisions he made as a county commissioner when an application was before him.

Rule was recently turned in to the State Attorney General for accepting campaign contributions from another applicant right while that application was before the Board for a decision!!! What was Rule's response??? He said, other politicians will understand me taking money in this situation. RIGHT!!! CCW knows some politicians who don't sell their souls to the highest bidder. Appearances are, with at least one certain application, Rule was up to no good once again. CCW sure hopes Rule was the only commissioner playing down in the mud concerning applications before the Board.

No one wants to be called a jerk!
Not even Commissioner Rule.
So he better be careful what darkness lurks!
Or folks won't think he's so cool!!!

ONE READER SENDS: Isn't it just what we need at the county to have Forrey here in DSD able to hire all his old cronies from Kastera? You can bet that BOCC Rule has something up his sleeve since he supported the guy from the get go. Politics..politics...politics.

COMMENTS: Your new director seems to have made a lot of money directing the Kastera project. CWW
will know later today what is going on with the Kastera project south of Lake Lowell. The county has several large dairies located in the same area Kastera wants a high end subdivision. What are the plans for Kastera? Shoving out our daries with complaint upon complaint? Some of these dairy owners moved to
Idaho after being complained to death in California Our comp. plan dedicated an area so. of the lake just for dairies coming to Idaho. Guess it didn't do us much good to work on that comp. plan. This story just keeps coming.

ONE READER SENDS: Can a guy work for the BOCC getting money from them and also developing out a subdivision and getting money from that? Smells like kickback time to me.

COMMENTS: We are continuing to check out this question. We did learn for certain today that the new director of DSD did recently appear before the county commissioners and the planning and zoning commission regarding a subdivision south of Lake Lowell. A legiitimate question is whether or not he is still being paid by Kastera payroll? This could be hard to prove, but you're correct in saying this whole thing has a bad smell. Keep checking for the rest of the story.

ONE READER SENDS: I've got a friend working for the city of Nampa and a bug
was put into my ear to notify you about an issue they are questioning when the city deals with the county planning dept. where there's a new director. Does the county do background checks before hiring somebody in a job that important? Is it legal for county commissioners to hire somebody to that position who has lobbied them for a big subdivision and has made loads of money developing Canyon Co. farm ground? Can you get us some information about that new director ? Something's not right
with this whole situation.

COMMENTS: This reader will realize I took out the name of the new director, even though it was used in this inquiry. We aren't sure if the county does background checks before hiring directors or not but if
he (the new director is a man) has been representing subdivisions in Canyon Co. we are sure the county would be aware of that part of his background. We will find out the legality of hiring someone who appeared before the board and whether or not that hiring is problematic. Just off hand, we would need to know the status of any subdivision with which the new director was associated . Is it totally built out or is it like many other subdivisions in Canyon Co. permitted but waiting for the economy to pick up. A question like this has not surfaced before.

ONE READER SENDS: No, No is all we hear. Is anything ever right with this site? Anybody looking at our jail knows it has been used way past its time. Cough up some more taxes for a few years but a new jail will be used for decades. I hope commish goes right ahead and builds a new jail, even if people don't pass a bond. The federal money should be enough to build a good jail.

COMMENTS: CCW takes seriously what this recession has done to many people living in Canyon Co. We have neighbors with many children barely able to put food on the table. AND you want more money so prisoners can have a better place???? This is not the right time for government to squeeze more money from their constituents. CCW would rather see food on our neighbors table than fine accommodations for prisoners.

EDITORIAL: How can taxpayers have a voice when commissioners want to build a new jail and build new fair ground facilities?

PROBLEM #1: If taxpayers don't immediately jump on the bandwagon supporting a new jail, they are blackballed as naysayers, and worse.....Can opposing voices be heard or are elected officials intelligent enough to work with taxpayers who may have a different idea about county needs that does not necessarily agree with the commissioner's idea? CCW has been active for ten years now and consistently we have observed the same approach from county elected commissioners. That approach is...if you are not with us you are against us !!! When that stand is taken, all ideas are not heard.

When county officials held a meeting nearly six years ago, exploring the possibility of holding a bond election for the purpose of building a jail. CCW attended that meeting and told elected officials we would stay quiet, which is unusual for a watchdog group. At that time, CCCFRG was the only citizens group actively voicing opinions about county government. But, at that same meeting there were some citizens who voiced their opinion and had sound objections to building a jail big enough to take in prisoners from other areas. They clearly stated they did not want criminals from other counties or states being housed in our local jail. They felt we already had enough criminals in our county population without advertising for more as a means of additional revenue.

At the time, CCW remembered all the promises of additional revenue the county would get if the tent jail for 250 was approved. Of course, none of those promises took place and our tent jail has been only 1/2 full most of the time since it was built and forced on the city of Caldwell.

Each idea from taxpayers was met with prepared negative responses . CCW kept their promise and said nothing as taxpayers were shot down over and over, even called CAVE people..."Citizens Against Virtually Everything." CCW stayed silent. And calling the folks who will be stuck paying for any new facilities, CAVE people was not conducive to good relationships between citizens and elected commissioners. Then the bond was brought to a vote after the county had introduced their plan to build a justice center . County Commissioners seemed to forget that in Canyon County they were representing frugal, conservative republican voters when they showed drawings of a grand justice center complex.

The bond was defeated soundly. CCW has made no such promise of silence now as more plans for a new jail are on the horizon. Commissioners seem to want taxpayers to believe the county will receive thousands of dollars of stimulus money which they claim will help defray costs of a new jail. it's a good thing we have not promised silence since commissioners now think they can receive federal dollars.

CCW has one more phone call to make tomorrow and then we will bring some interesting information to readers about the likelihood of Canyon Co. getting federal dollars for any project.

CCW wants readers to think about something. How dumb is it to ask taxpayers to foot the bill for a new jail while at the same time learning that commissioners approved the spending of 1.5 million on new fairgrounds 31/2 miles away from any city water and sewer????? We couldn't afford sewer and water to the jail property and it is closer to city boundaries than the new fair ground.

How scary is it to read that the fair ground board had that much money in their control and commissioners could not touch that money during this recession or any other time,for any other expenses. Commissioners have zero control even though the fair board admits some of the money in that account came from county taxpayers. Did anybody know such a banking account even existed, let alone if it was legal. Who handles all the revenue from the fair and other revenue throughout the year? Much of that revenue is CASH!!!! Is a county commissioner even on the fair board? Do county commissioners get quarterly reports so they know about the fair revenue and expenditures or do they get quarterly reports that tell them nothing other than trust us to take care of fair money? Is the possibility of embezzlement greater with fair revenue than driver license revenue???

When taxpayers get the kind of information we received last week, it seems like we are held hostage by the fair-board wanting new grounds. Then turn a page and the county wants a new jail NOW!!! ''

We won't be quiet again. We will be at meetings with specific questions we deserve to have answered, prior to county commissioners obligating us to years of bond payments. Prior to any meeting, the public needs to go to the county web page and click on jail roster. Count up the number of DANGEROUS, VIOLENT criminals in our jail right now!!! You will see there are few dangerous, violent criminals in our jail. Other programs can be administered by the county which does not force us to build a new jail right now.

We must continue the work we are now paying for to clean up the jail we have. We cannot build our way out of this dirty mess. It will take too long to build a permanent jail. If we must spend the money to clean up the jail, we can continue to use it until other possibilities are explored instead of building a whole new jail complex when we have so much money invested in the prison complex we have now. Can we ask Caldwell to close specific roads, allowing us to build to connect our jail with the work release center? Can minimum security prisoners be housed in the work release center if fences and security provisions are enhanced? Can we install all new cameras throughout our jail facilities to make our deputies safer? What would the cost be to install all new cameras so deputies could preview any area prior to entering that area?With all the advances this country has made, we should be able to look into every corner in any jail facility. What would the cost of new cameras be compared to what electronics would be for a new jail?

Can we ask Caldwell to close roads around the county complex which would allow us to develop better parking lots? Could we apply with the city of Caldwell to build a parking facility to increase the parking spaces and facilitate a bigger jail right on county property we now own or can purchase near our courthouse?

The public is not dumb. Don't try to trick the public. CCW has been around a very long time. We know all the tricks used by elected officials to tell half truths and to frighten. Don't call CCW a CAVE!!! Keeping people ignorant is not the way to win friends and influence people Give us straight answers.

The fair board and county commissioners have made a big mistake speculating with taxpayers money. They think people are too dumb to figure them out. They are wrong.

EDITORIAL:

Because county commissioners are now determined to build a new jail facility and also establish a new fair ground location, some questions need to be answered by our elected officials.

Question #1: Are elected officials aware of the fact that the pages and pages of legal notices in the local paper represent taxpayers having such financial hard times, they are losing their homes to foreclosure?

Question #2: Have elected officials considered the number of requests for lower taxes by applicants to the Board of Equalization in the last three years, and compared those numbers to the number of taxpayers
who filed for relief in 2005 and 2006? ( The number appealing to the Bd. of Equalization in 2007 and 2008 and 2009 for tax relief, has grown by a huge amount as more and more people are losing their property to foreclosure and losing profits in their businesses.)

Question #3: If county budgets greatly determine levy rates, and levy rates determine the amount of property taxes property owners pay, why do commissioners keep approving requests for new fair grounds and new jails if those approvals will also require the payment of more taxes by ALL property owners, including those who are losing their homes and businesses during this time of recession?

Question #4: Should county commissioners actually figure out and inform the public, what it will cost county taxpayers in additional taxes to operate the jail, if a new jail is built on the land purchased west of Caldwell?

Question #5: Did county commissioners recklessly approve the purchase of new fair grounds before finalizing the negotiations between the city of Caldwell and the county regarding the city signing over certain deeds for fair ground property to the county?

Question #6? Is the property west of Caldwell the best location for a new jail, or has the county simply already spent so many tax payers dollars on that location, they feel forced to build at that location?

Question #7:Why did Rosalee, who works at the fairgrounds office, claim "no one was taking us seriously, but now we have purchased at a new location, they will have to take us seriously?

Question #8: What's more important, having a new jail for criminals or allowing property owners taxes to decrease during a recession?

Question #9: The county is receiving far less revenue so why are commissioners so determined to build new facilities?

Question #10: Why do Comm. Rule and Ferdinand get so riled up when asked to give up their spokesperson so the county could save her salary of over $57,000. plus benefits? (When this position was initially hired Comm. Ferdinand told the press she was hired as a spokesperson. Now he claims that is not true. Are many county employees who have worked for the county 10-15-20 years, disgusted to have commissioners pay a spokesperson over $57K when their salaries have stayed far less?)

CCW is investigating several matters at the county. As we receive responses to our requests, the facts
will be reported here so keep reading for the rest of the story. (Mr. Cram recently had unexpected surgery so this sight has been down for several weeks but we're back.)

ONE READER SENDS: Budget time's here. What a laugh. People want less taxes and commissioners aren't cutting budgets for most departments. When they are cutting, it is minor. Did you know that department heads don't even have to come to work more than four hours a day, as long as they make sure the required work in their department gets done? That has been true for many years. The BOCC got a few complaints about the 2.5 cut and they turned right around and gave us all an hour a week paid vacations. When the BOCC told us about the one hour week paid vacation, they explained one hour vacation pay would be the same as the 2.5 salary cut we sustained. Then they close their office for an hour a week!!!
Get prepared for higher taxes. The BOCC doesn't' have the stomach to enforce a 2.5 cut in salaries, why would anyone think they will cut the budget?

COMMENT: Where did you get the idea that department heads only have to work 4 hours a day? That's a new one to CCW. Was that a rule under different commissioners? We are closely watching the budget and appropriations for all departments. CCW hopes you're wrong about the commissioners ability to cut taxes. In the last election, both Comm. Alder and Comm. Rule claimed they wanted lean government and smaller government. It is essential they put action behind their promises and make large cuts in taxes to ease the burden on people who have lost their jobs and many who have lost part or all of their retirement.

The scene in California is a dark example of what can happen when government does not have open eyes and an ear close to the ground. Many in California who were financially stable, some in their employment and some with large retirement checks, have realized when the whole state goes under, their income goes too. Even though Idaho has a balanced budget requirement, they do not have adequate laws to force government to stay as small as possible.

Case in point: Some counties are now discontinuing most if not all, of the money they pay to some agencies, such as COMPASS. To CCW this is proof that county government can operate just fine without paying huge sums to COMPASS each year so that agency can impose their will on county residents. If Canyon County is forced to have emission controls, COMPASS will be to blame. How much tax dollars could be saved if the county refused to pay fees to all the numerous associations, such as Assoc. of Counties, Association of what ever department ? All these associations are administrative fat and it would not damage our county at all if these associations were discontinued.

It come down to whether or not Canyon Co. commissioners are serious about cutting taxes. CCW has seen enough records over the years to know cuts can be made which would not affect our county employees. So many people are out of work now, all county employees should be thankful for the jobs they have and the wonderful benefits which accompany those jobs. Even if cuts must be made, county jobs are great jobs and people should be thankful they have those jobs.

ONE READER SENDS: Power corrupts quickly so quit hoping for less taxes. They'll happen when hell freezes way over. Our Board rules with awesome power and longs to be loved by all. I expect a big raise in Oct. to make up for the "attempted salary cut" FY09.

COMMENT: This group of commissioners all claim to be republicans. If we cannot expect lower taxes when republicans have unanimous power, when can we expect less taxation? CCW has reminded people time and time again, the republican platform calls for less government and less taxes. It's about time the platform means something. CCW hopes we are all surprised by lower taxes.

If you were a little mouse listening at the
water cooler, or camped out in the commissioners
meeting room, this is what you might hear.

" We don't have enough money in our
budget to pay our bills."

"You're right! What shall we do?"

" We don't want to take any $$ from the
elected paychecks, but what can we do to save our own butts?"

"Nothing else we can do..we must all take a 2.5 % decrease in salary"

"That hurts."

"What if we make employees mad at us and they start telling
what really goes on around here? I really hate to risk that by
cutting every one's salaries."

"There's nothing else we can do. Let's take the cut."

Several weeks pass.

"I just can't hardly tolerate the dirty looks
I'm getting from the employees. I thought
they would take 2.5% and stay loyal or at
least stay quiet. What now?"

"Well..the public thinks we are really trying to
save a little money...how can we keep employees
quiet and not have the public asking questions?"

"I know!!! Let's give everybody here at the
courthouse a paid hour off each week. What
do you think about that?"l

"Well, that idea won't help us elected comm.'s
We don't come to work 40 hours in a month,
let alone in a week. (You know, the law
doesn't require us elected to put in any
specific number of hours per day.)
Can't we come up with
some reward which will enrich us commissioners
and not just the employees?"

"Back to the drawing board fellow commissioners:"

"Let's give the employees a paid day off each
week and then when we don't get to work
until 9 or 10 each morning, it will just appear we
are taking our paid vacation. No one will be the
wiser. They can't prove a thing."

"Your right. Let's call this hour a week vacation
employee appreciation and maybe the public won't
even know that elected officials are giving themselves
more vacation than before."

"Fine. Employee Appreciation with one hour a week
paid vacation. And us commissioners will take time
off too. I like this plan."

"HMMM..Ok. The public is too dumb to catch
on to what we are up to. This way the public
thinks we cut everybody's pay by 2.5% when
actually we will all get a paid vacation out of this
bad economic fiasco!!! "

"What if the public asks how employees will
get their work done with less time? What
will we say?"

"Just tell the public we'll get back to
them. They are so busy trying to make
a living in these bad economic times, they
won't remember they asked. Just wait them
out. It works every time."

"Deal?"

"You bet. Deal. It's unanimous."

ONE READER SENDS: I think people ought to hold on just a minute about the
little boy accused of killing his father in Caldwell. People are up in arms saying the
boy shot his father because he was abused. Some claim the boy was abused and
also the siblings. How do they know anything about anything other than the bit we
have been told happened in court? The boy hasn't pleaded guilty to nothing from what I
heard. If evidence points to this young boy, the state has to hold him somewhere unless
some of these people screaming to let him go come up with money for bond which I
thought was quite low considering the crime. Let's get the facts please.

COMMENT: CCW has had several calls about this matter. We feel the people need to
read the laws which govern a case of this nature. CCW will try to locate the specific
laws that apply to a case such as this one and put them on this website Maybe the
law requires that anyone over the age of 13 be held and tried for murder one
in a case of this magnitude with the evidence the state now has. If trying this
14 year old as an adult is required by law, maybe holding this young man in an
isolated cell, away from other adult prisoners, is the best thing for him. CCW has not been on a tour of the jail but we are quite certain there are cells not only islated, but completely out
of view of other adult prisoners. Perhaps the Juvenile buildings don't have adequate holding
cells for a crime of this nature. CCW has not toured that facility either.

If the law sets requirements for charging an person over 13 years of age, probably that
same law demands that they be tried as an adult if certain eveidence is found. The law
also would state the length of time the state should seek in a case like this. For instance,
the law will state either life or death penalty or a specifi number of years the state can
ask a judge in a situation like this. Remember,
this young man was not arrested on Saturday, the day of the killing. He was arrested on
Tuesday after the state had time to view all the evidence available at that time. Apparently
the evidence pointed toward a 14 year old boy. Apparently the evidence pointed toward a
premeditated crime. Apparently the evidence supported that the 14 year old knew how
to use a hunting rifle. That is just a small amount of the evidence in this case known by the
state prior to them arresting and charging the 14 year old boy.

If we don't like the charges, perhaps we should go to our legislators and see if the laws
can be changed. In our opinion, our prosecutor's office is following the law which they
swore to uphold when taking office. Again, CCW will hunt for the applicable laws and
put them on this site when we find them.

Most of the people contacting CCW have been in support of our prosecutor's office and the
way this issue is being handled. CCW knows enough about the prosecutor's office and sheriff's
office and the people who work there, to know the 14 years old young boy is being treated fairly and kept completely safe.

ONE READER SENDS: Money can stop city progress. My family wanted to have a roundabout at our corner close to Orchard and Middleton. Why would some one want stop lights when roundabouts actually add some decoration to a city street. We think some of the people fighting the progress a roundabout represents, have a ton of money and that's not fair.

COMMENT: CCW has been closely watching the city's attempt to locate a roundabout at that intersection. It is less than a mile from our home. First of all, the information which has been put in the paper by city representatives, is flat out false. CCW has been allowed to read many documents from the highway district involved and from engineers hired during this planning process. The last article written by a representative from Nampa was full of false information. It was like he had not read any of the documents that have accumulated as engineers worked on plans.

Engineers submitted claim a traffic light is cheaper and more appropriate for that intersection. All the costs have been outlined by engineers.

Let us just give you a couple of examples that any property owner would object to. This roundabout intended to take road frontage from one property owner down Orchard and down Middleton. We can tell you that land owner was offered less than $10,000.00 for that property. Anyone knows how valuable road frontage is to property. It can determine all kinds of opportunity for the land involved. Because one corner of that intersection was farm ground, the government planned to take twice as much property from that land owner than they would take from any other owner involved. If government wants to take private property that had road frontage and is located in an area which can be used for commercial, they better dig deep and offer a lot of money because they must pay a fair price. Road frontage can determine whether development has several entrances to roads.

Come out to this intersection and look where the stakes were placed in front of two homes facing Orchard. If the government would have been allowed to place a roundabout at Orchard and Middleton, two homes would have had a front door just a few feet from the location where cars would be traveling on the roundabout. The stakes clearly showed how close the road would be. How would anyone like to own a home and then have the government put a heavily traveled road less than 20 feet from your front door? One home would have to give up usage of his front door because traffic would be so close. Now, if the government wanted to pay these people fairly for their homes, perhaps it would not be so bad, but we know the amounts offered and both of these properties were offered less than $10,000.00 . Their properties would have become almost worthless with a road that near the front door. The only thing CCW could think would explain the highway district offering these people such insulting amounts was that they really did not want to build that roundabout at that location, no matter what they were saying.

CCW has read the different articles and letters to the editor favoring this roundabout. We wonder if they would favor them if they owned the home or the road frontage on farm ground. One engineer claimed it was only farm ground, why did anyone care. All CCW can say is that guy had no idea what farm ground with road frontage on Orchard Ave and Middleton Rd is worth. More importantly, that ground is someones livelihood. There have been some pretty ignorant comments made by people who were hired by the highway district. Government in this case, so deserved to lose this battle. Remember, if you added together what government offered three property owners, it was less than $20,000.00 for three different parcels of land, two homes and farm ground. Get real somebody!!!!

ONE READER SENDS: Why are people talking about the mayor running for election? Didn't we just have an election a few months ago? I thought we only had elections every two or four years.

COMMENT: City mayors are elected this next Nov. 09. School Boards also just held elections. Even though our legislature had a bill this year which would have cut down on the number of dates elections can be held, it did not become law. There are several dates, set by law, for holding elections.

ONE READER SENDS: Now the paper says our property tax might go up even though property values go down. Every thing depends on a new budget. Does that mean county leaders can put millions in a budget for a new jail, and then raise our property taxes to pay for the new jail? I think property taxes stink and should be outlawed.

COMMENT: Some states don't have property taxes, but most do. CCW has to laugh when we hear that property taxes are governed by budgets. When we first started watch dogging the county, past Comm. Lakey and past Comm. Beebe told us over and over that the property taxes had nothing to do with the budgets they were setting. Of course property taxes depend on budgets. The county commissioners set budgets for all county departments and several other services such as elections. courts and etc. As long as society and laws demand these services, those of us owning property are going to pay.

Is that fair? Do other people living in the county use these services but do not own property and do not pay property taxes? Sure they do all the time. That fact is one reason we have elected officials supporting the raising of certain fees. They claim by raising fees, it forces users of certain services to pay their own way, even though they do not own taxable property. That argument holds some water, but it also raises the cost of fees to all who do own property and are required to pay property taxes. It would be nice if people paying property taxes, were not required to pay any other fees for county services.

Now, to answer your question. No, the county won't include millions for a jail in the budget they are now working on. They would if they could, but when the next election rolled around they sure would be looking for work. Adding 14 million to our property taxes to build a new jail would increase everyone's taxes big time. If you pay $1,000 now you would be paying $3,000 or more if they added 14 million to the county budget. There are some laws also, which prohibit county commissioners from making capital improvements such as a new jail by just raising property taxes.

ONE READER SENDS: About the young boy now in prison for shooting his father. I think we should all wait and reserve our judgement until we know more of that story. I feel the father is being made the bad guy here and we don't know what took place in someone else's home. The father could be a real nice guy and he is being labeled pretty bad by people who don't know the facts. Another mess for Canyon County.

COMMENTS: These children have a mother. She reportedly is in a hospital in Boise. It has been reported that when the mother was informed that her children's father had been killed, her response was, "Who did it? The kids? " To CCW, that says a whole lot. We are not holding the mother up necessarily, as a good mother, but what an interesting thing to come from her mouth when informed of the death of the children's father.

CCW has full confidence in the office of our county prosecutors. (It is so good to be able to say that) As the case unfolds, they will decide what charges, if any, to carry forward. When the first evidence comes forward in many cases, decisions which were first considered, can change. We have witnessed this many, many times in past cases.

CCW stands firmly against any kind of abuse against children. If it is proven that the children in this family were abused, it's no different than torture that happens to innocent prisoners of war. Children must have a safe place in their home. They must have a place where there parents protect them and allow them to grow up healthy. If readers do not agree that child abuse is a form of torture, let us hear from you. To CCW abuse of children in there own home is perhaps even worse that torture in wartime. In wartime, those acts are against adults. Abuse of children is as low as a human being can sink.

ONE READER SENDS: Health insurance for our family, gives us hope. We know if our
family is ill, we at least, have a chance to have our family treated. Is it right that Comm.
Ferdinand, Comm.Rule and Comm. Alder have available to them the same cheap insurance
as the county employees but the common public has to decide if we will feed our youngsters
or have health insurance? Providing gov. health insurance or forcing employers to make available
affordable health insurance better happen soon. It's overdue.

COMMENTS: CCW wants everybody to have health insurance and because it is so
expensive, it appears that government intervention will have to be taken. CCW does
worry about government spending so much money they don't have. Perhaps our
government has reached a point when they better stop giving so much money to
other countries and take some time to survey the needs of their own people and make
sure Americans are able to receive the best that health care has to offer. To have
government elected officials controlling their own salaries and their own benefits, does
not afford the kind of government our forefathers envisioned.

ONE READER SENDS: Your blog wants to know what I think about the
salarys them commissioners get. If you could see my tongue, you would
visually know what I think. The rest of us get a paycheck an it's gone
the same day for bills. Why do we must give them money every year when
we can't make it? I hope we do get gov. health insurance for everyone. Those
guys get insurance and I and others pay for it. Ain't it fair that us guys
get it to?

COMMENTS: CCW will say this. Health insurance for every person in
the U.S. should be loudly supported by all who are elected officials
and/or work for government and have health insurance as a benefit.
Pubic officials and public employees COULD be paid a salary and not be
paid benefits. CCW is not recommending that public servants not
get insurance as a benefit, but if public officials and public employees
get health insurance mostly paid by the tax dollars which come from the
public, the public too should have this benefit.
We pay for public officials to have insurance at very low rates,
but we can't afford insurance!!! Something is very wrong with this
picture.

ONE READER SENDS: Hey dudes....I feel real sorry for Stevie. Here we find him
working at such a low life job when he is so intelligent he could be making millions
Don't you know when you all have a good thing? Rule is cool

COMMENTS: CCW will leave your comments alone. Thank you very much.

FACT: Comm. Rule refused to disclose or recuse when
JAPS (a company applying for a CUP) appeared before
the county commissioners in Feb. 2008. Why should
Rule have disclosed or recused? Prior to Rule announcing
he would run for a second term and prior to Rule appointing
a treasurer, he accepted money from one of the owners
of JAPS and from the real estate agent representing JAPS.
Even though the money he accepted was
claimed to be campaign contributions, how did the two
men who donated know Rule was a candidate? These two
men had to give the money directly to Rule, since he had not
appointed a treasurer. If Rule claims he told these two
contributors to give the donations to someone else,
he broke the law which demands that candidates CANNOT
RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OR SPEND ANY MONEY FOR THEIR
CAMPAIGN BEFORE APPOINTING A TREASURER.

Is there another reason Rule should have recused or disclosed?
How about the fact that the Prosecutor who attended that
hearing asked Rule three separate times if he had any information
he needed to disclose? Each time Rule said NO. He deliberately
hid the fact he had taken money from the applicant and one of
his representatives.

Why are any of these FACTS important? Put yourself in the
place of those who appealed this decision. They were forced
to pay $2008.00 to the county to be able to appear before
our holier than thou board. When a person pays that kind'of
money to a public agency, they expect to receive a fair
hearing and also expect they will be told the truth and have
judges who have not had previous associations with the
application they are appealing. In this case, there was nothing
fair and just after the hearing was over, one of those appealing
heard previous Commissioner Beebe, bragging saying "I guess
we showed them!!!!"

If Canyon Co. Commissioners know how to treat their constituents
fairly, they had better rush to the auditor's office and have a check
cut for $2,008.00. No one received a fair and equal hearing. Do
the right thing for once. Give those fees back to the people who
were systmatically cheated.

CCW has received more information which sheds some light on Canyon Co. salaries and comparisons of Canyon Co. salaries with other large counties in the state.

Think about this and let us know how readers feel. When voters elect officials to public office, and they are elected to do the same job as other elected officials, should all elected officials be paid the same? If county commissioners are required to set all salaries, even their own, what criteria are they using to deny other elected officials the same salary the commissioners are paid. What happens when county commissioners demand they be paid more than other elected officials? Past president Bush was paid the same salary for each of the eight years he was in office. When President Obama took over as President, he is paid the same salary as was past Pres. Bush.

Longevity is not considered for the highest office in our country. A new senator or representative is paid the exact same as their comrades who have served the country for many years. They get the same salary and the same benefits. These facts support paying all elected officials the same salary.

Thanks to readers for sending the following information which allows us to see how elected officials in other counties are paid compared to Canyon Co. elected officials.

First, lets compare the number of employee working full time in four counties.

ADA CO. 1,455 employees

CANYON CO. 747

KOOTENIA CO. 711

TWIN FALLS. 319

(Each county has some part time and some seasonal but we are only looking at full time employees)

Now let us compare the salaries paid by these four counties to their elected officials.

ASSESSOR:

ADA CO. $79,560,00

CANYON CO. $75.487.00

TWIN FALLS: $58,781.99

KOOTENIA: $91,400.00

(Anyone know why Kootenia pays their Assessor so high?)
*****************************************************
CLERK:

ADA CO. $90,480.00

CANYON CO. $78,387.00

KOOTENAI: $66,949.00

TWIN FALLS: $60,320.00

*******************************************************

COMMISSIONER

ADA CO. $90,480.00

CANYON CO. $82,852.00(Ferdinand)
$81,961.00(Rule)
$78,399.00(Alder)

TWIN FALLS $61,713.00

KOOTENIA $66,949.00
*********************************************************

CORONER

ADA CO. $72,280.00

CANYON CO. $73.923.00

TWIN FALLS CO. $36,472.00

KOOTENIA CO. $59,739.00

************************************************************

SHERIFF

ADA. CO. $95,160.00

CANYON CO. $84,476.00

TWIN FALLS CO. $67,080.00

KOOTENIA CO. $82,400.00

*****************************************************

TREASURER

ADA CO. $79,584.00

CANYON CO. $70,825.00

TWIN FALLS CO. $58,281.00

KOOTENIA CO. $66,600.00

*****************************************************************

THE FOLLOWING DATA SHOWS THE POPULATION OF THESE FOUR COUNTIES
AS OF 2006 (Estimates)

ADA CO. 359,039

CANYON CO. 173,302

TWIN FALLS CO. 71,575

KOOTENIA CO. 131,507

ONE READER SENDS: Why didn't Rule get in trouble when he refused to provide copies of his emails about the black widow spider dress to the press? This makes twice now he had just been slapped on the wrist for breaking the law on emails and taking money from friends. Other counties in Idaho have been forced to turn over emails after denying public information requests. In Ada Co. the IT Department got told they had to keep email that had been archived accessible to be reproduced for the public if so requested. How come Rule got away with out producing his emails?

COMMENTS: Could you provide CCW with more information about other counties you claim have been forced to produce public records. We know about the Prosecutor in Lewiston but not about Ada Co. Was there a court case in Ada. Co?

ONE READER SENDS: What's happening in court offices isn't fair at all. Just a few years ago the BOCC had a meeting and voted to make Dan Kessler's job the same as an elected official with the same power. When that took place, the BOCC were meeting about the court interpreters and required experience for court interpreters, when they decided that he was to have the same authority as an elected official. I think a resolution was passed to make that determination official. Can you check the records and post what you find? The BOCC stuck their noses into business involving the courts probation and fired an excellent employee with no consideration from people in that department.

COMMENT: Hopefully, you can send CCW some dates showing when commissioners took that action. Even though CCW does not know that employee personally, we have received messages concerning the firing of that employee and she certainly had the respect of many people and had worked for the county a long time. If you can come up with even approximate dates, it will be easier to locate that action.

CCW has received several posts requesting more information about some county salaries. CCW has located documents which show county salaries as of 1/28/09.

First, questions are being raised about why all Canyon county elected officials are not paid the same salary. When did that get started. In Ada Co. all elected officials are paid equally. CCW has asked people who were commissioners in the 90's and at that time, all elected officials were paid the same. Who took the liberty of deciding that some elected officials were more important or worked harder than other elected officials? Another fact is, when past commissioner Beebe became Chairman of the Board, he began to receive a larger salary than any other commissioner. Who died and made him so important. Now, that practice has survived and the chair man of the board is paid more than fellow commissioners and for some unexplained reason, Comm. Rule has a higher salary than the newest commissioner, Comm. Alder.

SALARY: (Benefits not included and each county salary has been decreased by a couple percentage points because of the bad economy and financial shortages, and these salaries are BEFORE those decreases)

Comm. Ferdinand: $ 82,852.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 2004)

Comm. Rule: $ 81,961.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 2007)

Comm. Alder: $ 78,399.00 Began work for Canyon County in 2009)

CCW does not think it is reasonable for one elected official to decide they should be paid more than any other elected official. That's right!!! If commissioners decide that some elected officials are to be paid more than others, experience should count for additional salary. Not in Canyon County!!! The county commissioners set county salaries, including their own. The sheriff's salary is higher than some but we need to remember that job can be dangerous and Sheriff Smith has worked for the county for 26 years, so it is reasonable for that salary to be paid accordingly. Let's look at the rest of the elected officials. Send in your thoughts as to why a couple county commissioners think they are more important than the other elected officials. Our clerk has to prepare the entire budget for the whole county and they pay themselves more than the clerk. Preparing the budget is a huge responsibility and the Clerk's office has many other responsibilities concerning the courts and auditor's offices.

William Hurst: $78,387.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 2007)

Chris Smith: $84,476.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 1983--26 years)

Tracy Lloyd: $70,825.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 1981--and has worked there for 28 years)

Gene Kuehn: $75,846.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 1977-- 32 years)

Vicki Degeus: $73,923.00 (Began work for Canyon County in 1986--23 years)

Canyon County Commissioner have established a pecking order when they made their salaries more than other elected officials and that pecking order is detrimental and shows the arrogance of some MALE county commissioners.

Their pecking order appears to value women less than men!!! That's right. Two of the lowest salaries for elected officials are paid to women elected officials. Somebody ought to sue these arrogant men commissioners and teach them that constitutionally, women must be paid equal to men. Pay all elected officiials the same amount. We don't have Kings in Canyon Co.

CCW wants to verify some information dealing with county salaries. Back a week or so, we gave an estimate on what CCW thought was the salary of the counties Communications Office. We very quite low in our estimate so want to update that info.

CCW is just in the process of getting documents which show current salaries since some cuts were made. Our list of salaries is for FY 2008.

Communication Officer: $58,558.00 plus another approximate $20,000.00 for benefits.
Since her hire date was 1/31/05 that department advanced far more quickly than any other
county position. So, with benefits, our Communications Officer as of that date, received either in cash or benefits, $78,588.00. If I worked for the county for 10 years and was still being paid around $30,000.00 I would be madder than a hatter!!!

Comm. Ferdinand recently in the news, claimed that position was never filled to act as a county spokesperson. CCW thinks he needs to go read his own job description. CCW has had many complaints about the pay for that position since many have claimed the county spokesperson has a lot of free time during the work day. Hopefully that has changed with the spot light shining on that department.

CCW also received a question asking what is the salary of Officer Robert Munsey. (We think he just retired)
Again, during 2008 his salary was $67,086.00 plus benefits. He was hired by the county on 10/17/88.
So here we have an officer of the law, who had held down several different posts in his time with the county, paid approximately $8,498.00 more that a newly hired Communications Officer, who did not spend one day taking care of hundreds of criminals or driving patrol car each day to face who knows what!!! Now, is that right under any conditions? What task is included in the job description for a Communications Officer that would merit paying as much as the county pays that position. That is so unfair to the other employees who have worked so much longer at jobs far more important.

The commissioners refuse to inform the public as to why this position is paid such a high salary because they have no viable explanation. One would think the suitable background or experience for this position could be a newspaper reporter. They certainly don't earn that much salary. Some earn less than half that amount. Again, CCW has thought something was up with this salary for a very long time, but commissioners tell people to take a flying leap if we ask any questions about the amount of that position.

ONE READER SENDS: Say, what's up with the BOCC firing the public defenders for C.C.? Word is somebody has a good friend they want to give that job to, such as previous county prosecutor. Do politicians have to be so blatant with the good old boy system? Couldn't they wait until the twp year contract was complete before making their move? Now the BOCC announces they will only give that contract to an individual attorney, not a firm? Politicizing the public defenders office, is wrong. Check out the State of Montana. They are more interested in following the constitution and less interested in the good old boy system.

COMMENTS: CCW knows zero about the public defenders office and the way that office functions. County Commissioners are forced to cut their budget because taxes are going down not up. CCW does think Commissioners should not contract with an attorney who is named in any litigation against the county. That would be one limit CCW would put on such a contract. CCW has not heard any complaints against the two attorneys who have contracted with the county for many years to provide the poor with legal representation. That has to be a thankless job. If any readers know more about the attempted change of contract, just let CCW know. We are certain we have not heard the end of this story.

ONE READER SENDS: Who is yanking the chain on our P & Z Commissioners? I've heard some grumbling from a couple of them and they don't much like being forced to follow the law. Who is the new master of the P & Z?

COMMENTS All we have heard here at CCW is that a new county prosecutor has been attending meetings and keeping a close eye on how things are progressing with development in our county. All we have to say is ABOUT TIME. Actually, it is not fair to imply that our P and Z Comm. routinely break the law. The fact is our previous prosecutor's office was responsible for havoc involving building in this county. It will be great to have a prosecutor who follows the law and give that leadership to P & Z.

CCW has had emails asking us to show the salaries of Department Heads for the County. We will do so today, but these amounts do not show any cuts for salaries which just took place.

WELFARE: Leslie Pardue $55,122.00 (Hired 8/24/88)

JUVENLIVE CENTER: Steve Jett $71,396.00 (Hired 5/2/88)

WEED CONTROL: Jim Martell $46,943.00 (Hired 2/7/94)

PARKS RECREATION: T. Bicak $55,209.00 (Hired 10/2/89)

LANDFILL: John Biddle $67,348.00 (Hired 1/10/02)

HUMAN RESOURSES: Nancy Heck $64,141.00 (Hired 6/13/88)

EMER. MANAGEMENT: Todd Herrera: $58,724.00 (Hired 7/15/91)

ANIMAL CONTROL: $69,920.00 (9/21/87)

CCW must locate the rest of the salary sheets and will put up additional dept. heads salaries.

ONE READER SENDS: This state's DMV couldn't find their way out of a wet paper bag. You can bet that Canyon county is not the only place embezzlement is happening. I wouldn't give the Dept. of Transportation one red cent until they can prove to the public they can run their administrative office in an accountable fashion.

COMMENTS: CCW is hearing more and more about that Department's break-down and failure to wisely use the public funds they have already been appropriated. Although we don't know for certain how much money was embezzled, apparently it was a large amount of money. How many miles of road would that embezzled money have built? If the embezzled amount is anywhere near the reported $300,000.00 we do know it would have paid for the salaries of several people.

ONE READER SENDS: Some potholes are so deep you could fall in and find yourself visiting China, unexpectedly. No wonder Otter has his hand out for more money for roads. We gave Otter the money once, but Canyon County took it away. The moral of the story is ride more bikes (very carefully). What does the Bible say? One hand giveth and the other taketh away.

COMMENTS: Somethings tell us we better leave the Bible out of this.

ONE READER SENDS: Any county office that's getting cash should be forced to turn over cash to
a disinterested county employee to check the balance each day. Cash receipts should be accompanies by verification as to why the money was collected so cash amounts can be checked against receipts. In this day of computers, there's just something real wrong with a county not being able to keep track of their money. Suspicion abounds at the courthouse that a whole lot more money is being skimmed right off the top. These wind bag politicians better carry calculators and not guns.

COMMENTS: Again, in this case, the money coming in was sent to the State of Idaho. For sure, though, the county does have some controls set up when money is turned into the auditor's office and/or the treasurer's office each day. However, if some elected officials or employees have the chance to keep both cash and documents showing the cash was received, it would be hard to even know the cash ever existed. For sure, this county has a whole lot of reason to review all handling of cash receipts for each and every department, including departments that operate in different locations, such as the animal shelter and the county annex.

ONE READER SENDS: This site noted irregularities with several contracts between C.C. and a soft ware company who is contracted to work with DSD. My department too, registered a complaint about these same contracts. How hard is it for a lawyer to look at contracts and give an opinion as to whether they are legally binding? Since the inception of these contracts questions about their legality have been discussed. Since embezzlement has come to light, once again costing taxpayers their hard earned dollars, why isn't the county having their prosecutor's office render an opinion on these contacts. If found to be problematic, getting this money returned would add hundred and hundred of thousands of dollars into the county budget. Why haven't the county commissioners asked for an opinion on these contracts. If found illegal, we are in very hard times and those contracts should be null and void with all pay outs impounded and returned to the general fund.

COMMENTS: If this world were perfect, maybe all the things mentioned in your post would happen. If you have followed this blog, you will remember that the recipient of this money, is a friend and former business partner of Comm. Ferdinand. CCW does not know if these contracts have been brought to the attention of our new prosecutor's office. We will try to find out and report back. It is our opinion, here at CCW, that nearly a 1/4 of a million dollars has been paid out to this previous business partner of Comm. Ferdinand in numerous contracts with the county. All of these contracts have been called into question but we are not certain any questions have been made since our new prosecutor has taken office. You are correct. If these contracts are found not to be legal, the county should have all the money returned, although we are certain it would take litigation to accomplish that goal. Sock it to the people, one more time. Considering the crisis the county find itself in, Comm. Ferdiand should launch this investigation himself.

Stay tuned for more on this story.

ONE READER SENDS: Hey! Money is missing. Surprise! Who all done took
our countys money??? I'd say there is a whole lot more money to find.
The plot thickens at the county courthouse.

NO COMMENT:

ONE READER SENDS: Claims that the county didn't want to hide the truth about missing money is pure bull. They hide stuff like tha all the time. Young took a bunch of electronics from the county. Everybody knows when his boy Marc got thrown in the hooscow, he trashed his own computer so the hard disk could not be read. A lot of county stuff left the courthouse when Young was in office and had the protection of the sheriff. IT ALL COST MONEY. Isn't failure to investigate and prosecute him more of the good ole boy system? I'll help them start a investigation. Just locate all electronics assigned to Young's office and see if you can find them.

COMMENTS: After Marcus was arrested, CCW tried to locate Young's computer and county employees did try to locate it but I was told Young did not have a specific computer assigned to him and it would be impossible to locate any one computer Young used exculsively. We have a lot of respect for our Prosecutor in office now and we are certain he will guard taxpayer dollars carefully.

ONE READER SENDS: Thanks to you guys for getting this news out to the public. It is so quiet around here today, you could hear a pin drop. What if more money is missing? Who woulda thought this would happen with all our righteous people working here?

COMMENTS: As far as we know at CCW, the Caldwell Guardian first reported this news to the press. You can also read more about this embezzlement on the Caldwell Guardian blog.

ONE READER SENDS: Get ready for higher fees to get our cars licensed. Don't it take
the proverbial cake to be breaking our piggy banks to license our cars and then find out
county employees are painting the town with our dough! Unbelievable. Now they will
probably raise our fees to make up what's been stolen.

COMMENTS: CCW knows what these two women have done is really bad, especially because they
were trusted with public funds but it is also really sad to see this happen with women who have
worked with the public for so many years. It's just real sad.

ONE READER SENDS: Hard to believe it took 7 years to catch these women. Who was getting paid off in this deal? The official in charge could have been getting pay backs to look the other way. Some heads sure better roll.

COMMENTS: Again, these fees were not sent to Canyon County. The were sent to the Dept. of Transportation and that agency should have caught such a huge shortage. Our assessor is a decent man and seems devastated at this turn of events. No wonder our roads are full of pot holes. The Transportation Dept. apparently needs some attention. It's a state agency.

ONE READER SENDS: Seven years to discover money missing? Who the *&##( was watching the store?
Here's a prime example of elected politicians drawing huge checks each month not interested in nothing else. Some heads better roll.

COMMENTS: Again, don't forget. That money was not being sent to the county. It was being sent to the State of Idaho and they should have caught the shortage. Our Assessor is a decent person and appears to be just devastated about this. If heads roll, they need to roll at the State Dept. of Transportation.

ONE READER SENDS: It's the same old story again. People caught stealing from the county and the real story only came out because the public found out about it. When these elected yokels claim they want to be upfront and inform the public when money is missing they've got their fingers crossed
behind their backs. This embezzlement is the last thing they wanted leaked. They've known about it for weeks and kept it hushed up. There should be a thorough audit in any department that handles cash money. All some people need is opportunity and they will steal. Look how much cash money comes into the probation and courts. Who's watching? Why aren't elected officials doing weekly audits of their employees? Mainly they sit at their desks or slither throughout the courthouse so people will know how important they are. Bets are going on right now and employees are betting how much money is missing from other departments receiving cash all the time. Want to BET? Why did it take Keuhn so long to find the embezzlement? Are pay offs going on to keep it quiet?

COMMENT: Your comments are interesting. However, CCW has been around a long time and we absolutely do not think Gene Keuhn had anything to do with or took any county money from anyone. We have observed him over a 9year period of time and that shoe just doesn't fit him.

You are right that departments working with cash should be audited regularly. It's sad but often true that cash money and opportunity are many times not a good thing. As far as elected officials are concerned, the buck stops with them. The people have voted them into office to "be the boss" over certain sections of the county and we expect them to be observing the functions of their departments closely.

This embezzlement case sounds like it involved a state department, but news coming out now claims Mr. Kuehn was the one who found the irregularities. It sounds like this embezzlement should have been caught by the State Transportation Dept. CCW is not sure giving that department more money to build roads is a good idea if they can't even keep track of cash from license sales.

ONE READER SENDS: I take a little, you take a little. No one will notice. Taxpayers here are rich and I need some extra money this month. Take a little more next month. Now it's a habit. Didn't get caught, take
a little more this month. This story plays out over and over in our wonderful courthouse. An example...just try to trace surplus auction funds. If the BOCC stayed in the courthouse and did their work, our taxes could drop way low. A lot of cash funds runs through the courthouse each day. Those elected to protect don't even look at the reconciliation or end of month balance sheets. It's not hard work. They just aren't here to do the work. It's down right sad.

COMMENTS Perhaps the fact that embezzlement has been going on for years, will open the eyes of our elected officials and they will begin to do their job. We agree that if cash money is handled, there must be check points in place to make sure policy is followed and the money is used in the correct account.

CCW heard during this legislative session that the Dept. of Transportation with state offices in Boise, were audited and that audit cost taxpayers $500,000.00. That's half a million dollars paid out for an audit which apparently did not find that hundreds of thousands of dollars were being skimmed.

CCW is looking forward to the annual Canyon County audit soon due to be published. Hope this audit is worth the taxpayers funds paid out. CCW is especially interested in whether or not levies were kept whole or did money get transferred around and around and around!!! How many $$$$ have our elected officials abused and misused?? Hmmm CCW writes poetry!!!

EDITORIAL: As more and more news breaks about what is going on at the courthouse, CCW has a sick feeling for the numerous excellent employees who work day in and day out for the people. Even though there appear to be a few bad apples at the courthouse, most employees should be applauded for their service.

ONE READER SENDS: In case everybody has forgotten the BOCC schmooze the newspaper or hide from them. Here's a question they don't want to answer. Why would one more employee be fired while they are paying over $50,000.00 for one new position to speak for the board? One would think those elected could at least speak for themselves and dissolve that position to help ward off firing anymore employees.

COMMENTS: CCW hears lots of rumbling and grumbling about that position. The facts are that this specific position should never have been brought on board. County Commissioners cannot by law hire clerks. When they found that out they declared that the new position of county spokesperson was a department and the spokeswoman was the head of that department. We think that position is paying about $56,000.00 per year plus benefits. (Haven't checked since cuts have been made.)

Now Rule stated several times while running for election that he would vote to get rid of that position if elected. We are waiting and have not heard a word. Hm mm.

ONE READER SENDS: Looking for money to run the county so more of us don't get fired? The money is gone for a long long time. Your website forgot some waste by Beebe, Rule and Ferdinand. Remember the law suit about the juvenile who was being abused by her step-father? Who knows what that suit will cost, but more than the Leon case.

COMMENTS: CCW had forgotten that case is still pending. We'll check it out and see where that case stands now. Like we have always said, if the Leon case cost $900,000.00 this case will cost double that or more. We are dealing with a case where our prosecutor's office deliberately sat on abuse charges because they "didn't like to deal with cases involving children." CCW does not have to even wonder about this settlement. What we do wonder about is WHERE WILL CANYON COUNTY GET MONEY TO PAY IT OFF IN CASE THE INSURANCE HITS ITS CAP????

ONE READER SENDS: Put this in your readers hats...some state agencies are so angry at the BOCC they
have taken back a whole bunch of lap-top computers they had supplied some working in the courts. The
BOCC fired a long time employee from probation for no reason other than they wanted to control supervision which belonged to another official. We hear next they will be firing at the Juvenile Center so they can run it too. If I was Estella that ran against Alder, I'd be real worried.

COMMENTS: I'll do some checking and post what I can find out. I heard some rumblings from some other posts and a couple of phone calls. I'm sure those other two bozo's are trying to drag Kathy down to their level. I promise I'll find out what's up.

ONE READER SENDS: I sent this post to you earlier, but it came back so I'm trying again. In a time so many are losing work, the BOCC prove they worship power and should be closely watched. Anyone paying attention to recent business by the BOCC could see them going on a power trip at the expense of long time proven county employees not to save the county money but to award themselves more and more power. They've bucked right up against the Supreme Court this time but couldn't care less. Claiming jurisdiction for Detention and Juv. and Criminal Probation will involve some more firings of at will directors. It's only a matter of time. They already fired the head of probation and have their sites set on others. I guess we could take fair, explained cuts in salaries, but the way the BOCC handle things, fear abounds.

COMMENTS: CCW has received several other posts about this matter. Other posts claim the director was fired from probation and she was earning over $70K yearly plus benefits. CCW will post the other info now that my site is back up and operating.

ONE READER SENDS: Personally, I voted for Ms. Alder because your website backed her. I agree with most of the news that comes out here but a lot of us are getting shocked by her failure to carry through with her campaign promises. I stumbled unexpectedly on an interview done with Ms. Alder and the Press Trip. Listening was an eye opener. Ms. Alder claimed everything at the county was being done in a transparent way and she was completely happy with the way things are running. That's a lie and she knows it. They hide stuff from the taxpayer everyday. I'm kind of mad that I listened to you and voted for her.

COMMENTS: I'll go to the papers website and see if I can hear the interview you heard. I just cannot imagine you heard correctly if you think she claimed everything is transparent at the Canyon County Courthouse. We supported her after knowng her for years and transparency was one of Kathy's biggest complaints prior to being elected. Let me check it out. You must have misunderstood.

ONE READER SENDS: Here's the facts. The Board fired an empoyee who works as a supervisor in Juvenile Probation. She was earning over 70 thousand each year because she had worked for the county for a long time. Her supervisor was not even a part of her being fired. What goes around comes around. Election time is coming soon.

COMMENTS: CCW has been receiving several posts about these issues. I'll do some investigation and get back to you. Apparently, this issue is very important to many working at the county. I've had to clean up some words in a couple of posts before I posted them.

ONE READER SENDS: Surprise, surprise surprise. I found some lost money for salaries. A couple million for mink do-do. $30,000. for phantom tables, a million for new license plate offices, $200,000 or $300,000. for Ferdinand's friend. Now we are sued and have to spend millions fixing up the jail 'cause they are caught red handed for negligence. Now I'm told the law knows exactly where their doors went, but it's an inside job and they don't want to hurt one of their own. That $30,000 would pay the salary for one employee. The only funny part of this whole mess is watching the BOCC all huddled together trying to figure out how to keep all their messes out of the press while they screw over more county employees.

COMMENTS: This is not good. CCW agrees all that money is absolutely wasted but not one county employee had any thing to do with that waste and should not be suffering because of it. It is the opinion of CCW that until the time elected officials are forced to pay back taxpayers money they deliberately waste, this will not stop. These elected officials are bonded and should be held accountable. The people would then at least, get their money back. However, as long as elected officials refuse to hold each other accountable, instead of conveniently looking the other way, the people are held hostage. The waste described in your post, involves some illegalities. The people deserve to have those activities declared null and void and get our money back so our property taxes go down instead of up.

ONE READER SENDS: No one is safe from these ego-maniac three musketeers. Now they have their eyes on money in the Fair Board account. First they fire long time great employees working in the courts and now they are salivating over the fair account. Power corrupts. Please get what's happening out to the public. None of us working for the county are safe.

COMMENTS: CCW sure didn't see this coming. Are the commissioners giving anybody any reasons for shifting this authority to thier office?

How many times do we have an opportunity to say "I told you so" especially when dealing with politicians and their comments? "I told you so" does nothing productive, but once in awhile, it just must be said. Last year, at the end of our legislative session, some politicians tried to quietly slip through a bill which would have limited some rights we have been given in our State Constitution. Have you read the State Constitution? It is quite small. Doesn't take long to read it in it's entirety. If we are not acquainted with our rights under the Constitution, how will we know if lobbyists and politicians sneak in changes, when they think no one is looking?

CCW is so thankful for all the work done by a few, as they keep us updated about bills introduced in the legislature and their ramification for us as citizens. Last year, when Canyon Co. representatives defeated an attempt to change the constitution and requirements about the handling of long term debt, we must admit we were guilty of saying we were certain politicians would not let this defeat stand. That's where the "I told you so" comes into play.

They are back this year. Once again late in the legislative process. CCW will report on this activity after Friday's votes are registered. Some where in this state, there is a public hospital in financial trouble and
a few politicians are attempting to amend the constitution because a public hospital is in dire financial trouble and it is the only hospital of any size in their area. Are there other ways to handle this hardship, without amending the state constitution?

You should know, certain politicians have learned way to try to amend the Constitution, WITHOUT ASKING THE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN.

Why would any politician think tax payers would want to spend more money building more buildings when many of our people are losing their homes to foreclosure??? What part of hard times don't these politicians understand?

Sure enough, new bills are working there way through the legislative process, which would accomplish the very things (changes to the Constitution) that were stopped last year. Fortunately, the Constitution cannot be amended, without a vote of the people. Believe you me, if politicians could change the Constitution without asking the people, we wouldn't even recognize the historical document, The Constitution of the State of Idaho. I've been expecting to hear our politicians begging to use stimulus dollars to over ride our constitution.

Right now, those trying to enact these changes, have a bill working it's way through the legislative body. CCW will have a lot more about this story after the meetings of this week are completed.

Every single day CCW is so happy in the fact that the constitution cannot be changed without a vote of the people. Once more, that law will save us.

ONE READER SENDS: The board of commish need to follow their own rules and ordinances. The think they can just call out the need for a meeting and by voting together, make up their rules as they go along. My family lives in Caldwell and I'm sick to death of paying twice for animal care in our county. I once worked at the courthouse and saw the outlandish amounts of money especially Caldwell and Nampa paid, even after we all paid property taxes which should be used to operate the animal shelter. Commish are making some of us pay double for those services. I don't even have a dog or cat so getting hit twice is quite offensive to me. What can we do to stop more and more taxes?

COMMENTS: Here at CCW, we know at least one commissioner who is fully aware of the fact that the county is forcing double taxation in several cities in the county when it comes to the counties responsibility of operating an animal shelter. Write letters to the editor to the local newspaper and write to the commissioners and let them know your concerns. CCW is going to file a formal complaint about the counties reckless abuse of their power concerning their charging cities twice for animal control.

ONE READER SENDS: The BOCC claims they can't keep drawing their huge salaries without laying off employees. Look how much the county could save if the BOCC gave back their salaries and just worked for benefits. Here's another helpful suggestion. Since we doubt the BOCC will give up one cent, at least they can lay off the county spokesperson and talk for themselves. How many of our jobs would have been saved if the BOCC had not purchased off sight buildings spending over a million. Now we lose our jobs. Something sure stinks.

COMMENTS: From your post, CCW assumes more cuts must be coming. We wished the last cuts would be all that is necessary. CCW hasn't heard about more cuts. Can you send more information?

ONE READER ASKS: WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP POURING MONEY DOWN A RAT'S HOLE AND LITIGATING AGAINST COUNTY GOVERNMENT? HISTORY SHOWS THAT ACTION IS FUTILE. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS RIGHT NOW WITH SEVERAL COUNTY CITIZENS SUING CANYON CO. ABOUT THE JAIL GOING OUT WEST OF CALDWELL. WHAT A MISSION IN FUTILITY? THE NEW JAIL IS GOING TO BE BUILT THERE AND NOBODY CAN CHANGE THAT FACT.

COMMENTS: Some feel the Idaho State Constitution is an important document and should be upheld. If, in fact, the courts do not uphold the Constitution, they they really have no restrictions which determine the validity of their decisions. You easily could be right, that the jail will be built on 20/26. Citizens don't seem to be having a whole lot of luck getting a decision in their lawsuit. But, no matter what, agreeing with the steps taken by the county to built a facility costing over $48 million dollars, says those in charge of spending that money are doing so outside the legal requirements of the Constitution. It also says county officials who sign off to spend money on a new jail, at the 20/26 location, do not appreciate nor think it is important to follow the state Constitution. It doesn't matter whether a bond is passed to build a jail or not. The Constitution has already been ignored. If Constitutional requirements do not control local government long term spending, then county officials can purchase land next to you and do whatever they want. Constitutional restrictions are in place to protect everyone. It is pretty scary when the courts look the other way.

ONE READER ASKS: I GUESS THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT A RECESSION IS THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TO CUT BACK ON THEIR MASSIVE SPENDING. ON ANOTHER SITE, I READ THAT CANYON CO. DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT SEWER AND WATER OUT TO THE NEW JAIL LOCATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH IT COST THE COUNTY TO BUILD THAT NEW ANIMAL SHELTER AND HOW MUCH IT COST TO GET THE SEWER AND WATER TO THAT FACILITY WHEN IT WAS BUILT. I SEE MORE AND MORE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THIS AREA AND IT REALLY BURNS ME UP TO SEE SO MUCH MONEY SPENT TO TAKE CARE OF CATS AND DOGS. WHERE I GREW UP, WE TOOK CARE OF CATS AND DOGS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

COMMENTS: The animal shelter actually, is not new any more and has been around 8 or 9 years, we believe. The animal shelter was only built after the people in this county voted and a bond was passed. That's the way facilities are supposed to be built. So far, a bond has not been passed for a new jail. CCW know of no way to find information about sewer and water going to the animal shelter when it was new. We think, since it is located in Caldwell City Limits, that water and sewer was already at that site. That facility was built after the job service which is just across the street from the animals shelter so sewer and water were most certainly available. The only cost would have been the hook up fees, which would not add up to anywhere near as much as installing lines to a new facility.

CCW thinks your comments about homeless people comparing them to possibly unwanted animals, is like comparing apples and oranges. Even if laws did not require a safe and clean way to take care of animals, most people want to know our pets will be treated well if the need arises. Most people want a facility which allows others to purchase unwanted animals to help eliminate so many living animals being terminated. CCW does not think whether or not animals have a nice facility really has anything to do with whether or not government provides enough help to homeless people. In this country, we work to hopefully, address both issues.

If you are complaining about the Canyon Co facility being a rather new facility, you should go check out where the previous facility was located. It was very small and not equipped to keep animals comfortable. Do you want to go to an animal shelter and view animals starving and either freezing or having heat strokes? If we as a people allow that kind of treatment of animals, CCW thinks our treatment of the poor would also suffer. Being kind to animals is a part of this nations fabric and an important part.

ONE READER ASKS: NINE OR TEN PEOPLE LAST YEAR SUED THE COUNTY FOR BUYING MORE GROUND FOR A JAIL AFTER THE JEROME LOCATION FELL THROUGH. WHERE CAN WE READ THE OPINION AND DOES THE COUNTY NEED TO SELL THAT LAND LIKE THEY DID THE JEROME LAND? I SAW A SIGN ON THE JEROME PROPERTY THAT A NEW CAR WASH WOULD SOON BE BUILT THERE. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

COMMENT: CCW cannot inform you where to read that opinion, because there has not been one issued as far as we know. Anyone interested can go to the courthouse and read the file which will allow you to read any steps taken so far. The litigation you refer to mainly is an attempt to stop county decision makers from breaking the Constitution. Purchasing that land and paying over a million dollars for construction design and other planning documents, broke the Idaho Constitution. Either a Constitution is backed up by law, or all taxpayers are in real trouble. When we read all the recent attempts gov. uses to get around the Constitutional requirement about long term debt, the validity of the Idaho Constitution is at stake. That is quite significant.

CCW does not know what will be done with the 20/26 property since the county, by law, is not allowed to hold property for speculation purposes. There are many in our county who would rather fewer people be in jail, than pay more taxes to build and operate a new facility. People are losing their home right and left and don't much want to dig up money for crooks to have a nice jail. You cannot blame people for feeling that way. CCW has heard over and over that our county should not get a new jail, since they didn't take care of the one they now have. Hopefully, the problems because of lack of maintenance, are now being addressed. CCW has learned that "cleaning and sanitizing" a facility while prisoners actually inhabit that same facility, is a real tricky issue. And of course, we can't forget that women inmates are complaining that they are always left until last while the areas which hold male inmates are cleaned up first.

ONE READER SENDS: I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES WITH THIS BLOG LOOKING FOR POSTS MONTHS AGO ABOUT CO. COMMISSIONER FERDINAND GIVING WORK TO HIS FRIEND. I CAN REMEMBER SOME OF THE CONTRACTS WERE FOR LARGE AMOUNTS. DID THE COUNTY EVER GET THAT MONEY REIMBURSED TO THE COUNTY COFFERS? I READ A STORY YESTERDAY BY ANOTHER COMMISSIONER AND THEY CLAIMED THERE WERE QUESTRIONABLE CONTRACTS NOBODY LIKED BUT DIDN'T SAY IF THOSE CONTRACTS WERE FOUND ILLEGAL OR WHETHER THE COUNTY GOT THEIR MONEY BACK. READING THE ARTICLE YESTERDAY MADE ME THINK THIS COMMISSIONER WASN'T GOING TO TAKE ANY STEPS TO COMMENT ANY FURTHER SINCE SHE TOLD THE PAPER SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE SPECIFIC. ACTUALLY, SHE CLAIMED ALL PROBLEMS THAT HAD BEEN IMPORTANT TO HER,WERE SOLVED BECAUSE THE COUNTY RAN OUT OF MONEY.

COMMENTS: Well, you cannot tell from someone not wanting to be specific whether or not they are working to expose to the public the problems with some contracts. There's a chance a formal complaint has been registered with the prosecutor's office, resulting in an ongoing investigation, and nothing can be made public yet. The contracts in question were between one of Ferdinand's old business partners and the county for work done on the acquiring and installation of some software which would allow some of the county home inspector's to do work from their vehicles, without returning to the courthouse. there were signs at the time, that this friend of Ferdinand's also attempted, with Ferdinand's help, to install their people in the county IT Department, hoping to remove the long time county director. You should be able to locate archived posts exposing this trickery but we know Ferdinand's friend has changed his company name at least once and possibly more. This kind of activity, changing of company names, makes it harder to follow the expenditures.

CCW hadn't thought about the fact that if these contracts were illegal, the money should be returned to the county budget. CCW will check on this during the week and let readers know. A question always arises about if the contracts were found illegal, WHO is responsible for repayment? Is it the person who received the money or should a set of county commissioners approving the contracts be responsible for the repayment of tax dollars? County commissioners are bonded and possibly those bonds would be attached if the contracts were illegal. Some of us thought that exposing these contracts, would assure that this practice was nipped in the bud. A really troubling thing which has happened, is even after there was publicity about these contracts, Comm. Ferdinand helped get another contract signed for his friend just prior to a new prosecutor and new commissioner taking office!!!

If, indeed, our county commissioners claim they were given poor legal advice, they can always go to outside attorneys for legal advice. There is a good chance that county commissioners should be held responsible for repayment of that money to the county budget. Getting that step to take place may be a real hardship. If it is not repaid, once again, the people lose. Many times CCW has heard commissioners claim they didn't need to look to the public for input on their actions, because, they had been elected to make those decisions. If that is true, they should wind up holding the bag when their decisions cost taxpayers after illegal contracts were issued.

CCW will follow up on your question and get some more information. One thing for certain. The reason for those contracts, has evaporated. It is certainly not a problem now if county employees must return to the courthouse to do their work. The list in the newspaper about how many homes are being built each week show rarely less than five homes are under construction any given week.

ONE READER SENDS: Women are treated like dogs by deputies working in the jail. Why do women have to wait to have their section cleaned up and stainless steel added? When I was in jail, you could almost see the mold growing before your eyes. Who gets the first cleaning? Not women prisoners.

COMMENTS: CCW has talked with some who had previously been lodged in the county jail. They certainly have a lot of complaints. Hopefully the work being done presently will help ease those complaints.

ONE READER SENDS: I thank the ACLU for helping us that's been in jail. I didn't do nothing and had to stay there several times. I say yea to the ACLU.

COMMENTS: If readers do not understand this post, the ACLU has filed a revised lawsuit against the county concerning the jail. This revised suit, filed on Wednesday, has hundreds of complaints from prisoners. Oh well!!! The county will just raise our taxes to pay for their reckless decisions. About as smart as building $30,00.00 for tables for the new jail, when no building is built to put them in so they all get stolen. Readers would think we were making this up but we are not. The crime about the tables being stolen was in the paper.

ONE READER SENDS: The basic rights of prisoners must be provided. Other than that I say "Shut up and turn down the volume on the cable TV . I want peace and quiet while I pay my taxes.

COMMENTS: What more is there to say? One hand is always reaching for more tax dollars.

ONE READER SENDS: Did you know the county is being sued once again? The ACLU revised their original suit and filed another suit about the county jail. Taxes will go to pay one more time. I'm sick of these jail birds getting cable tv and three squares and still suing for more. I'd put them in a tent and build a real high fence.

COMMENTS: CCW learned this suit has signed complaints from prisoners. Probably the same kind of deal as the requirement that a Tort Claim must be filed before a suit could be brought against a public entity. Once more tax dollars will be used to pay for stupid decisions by county commissioners. Few are aware of the fact that keeping that jail clean and in good condition is the legal responsibility of county commissioners.

ONE READER SENDS: I want to ask a question about how they get to amounts on our taxes. I'm not for paying extra for recycling bins and I don't want to pay any more for helping animals. Everybody can just
take care of their own animals. Why should I have to spend my money for other peoples pet? I am having trouble putting food on our table and don't have money for animals.

COMMENTS: We don't have a choice about paying taxes to be used to maintain our animal shelter. If you pay property taxes you will contribute a portion of that taxation to operate an animal shelter which is required by law. If you do not own property in Canyon Co. you only pay for services you use at the animal
shelter. An example would be if you had a pet that ran away and animal control picked up your animal and took it to the animal shelter. If you go to the animal shelter to claim your pet, there could be some fees you are asked to pay. There are several services available at the animal shelter and each service has an adopted fee. The fees then are deposited to the correct county fund and used to operate and maintain
the animal shelter and pay the staff who work at the shelter. We just don't get enough money from fees to fully operate the animal shelter.

CCW does not know how long laws have been in effect in Idaho, demanding that counties operate animal shelters. We know when people are having a hard time feeding their own family, providing money for an animal shelter is probably at the bottom of the list. But, countries are measured by various standards and in the US we decided a long time ago that humane and kind treatment of animals is important to the majority of our people and laws followed to make sure our animals in America were treated well and cared for. States relegated this requirement to local governments and animal shelters were built to help meet this requirement.

So, the answer to your post is that laws demand we pay money to operate animal shelters, if property is owned in the county. That cost is contained in your property tax bill and fees for services. If you do not
own property in the county, the only money you would pay is for using services at the animal shelter.

Just last week, our dogs ran away and were returned to us because of a call made to the Kindness to Animal clinic. The animal shelter personnel offered several helpful ideas to help us get our animals back.



The problem which has drawn attention to the animal shelter recently, is because county commissioners
had a public meeting with Caldwell to get Caldwell to pay more money to the county to help off set expenses at the animal shelter. Only county commissioners can appropriate funds in the budget to operate the animal shelter. Evidently, the commissioners did not budget enough money to meet this years expenses and they wanted Caldwell to pay an additional $80,000.00, over and above what property owners in Caldwell had paid, when they paid their property taxes.

ONE READER SENDS: When I was reading about the county animal shelter in the Press Tribune last week, I think having a animal shelter is a big rip off. Everybody should take care of their own pets. When we have to pay for that care with taxes, it is not at all fair to those of us who do not and will not have pets. Why should we pay for other people's pets? It's really bad when us in Caldwell have to pay $80,000.00 above what we get ripped off on our tax bill for an animal shelter. I agree with Nampa mayor the co. commissioners are ripping us off and taxing us double when we have to pay more. Why does Caldwell have to pay more and Nampa doesn't have to pay more? What kind of deal it that? When I read in the paper that us in Caldwell had to pay more than other cities, I was ticked off but good. Somebody outta be using their brains here.

COMMENTS: First of all, the county is required by law to operate some kind of facility to take care of unwanted or out of control animals within the county limits. Well over 10 years ago, the county started requiring that cities pay more than city property owners were paying on property taxes. However, several years ago, the amount billed to Nampa went over $200,000.00 and they decided to purchase their own trucks, hire their own animal patrol personnel and pick up animals needing attention within the city boundaries, rather than accepting double taxation for their city dwellers With the required county payments moving upward each year, Nampa could see they could do the job for less money and deliver the animals to the county shelter since the law requires the county shelter to take all animals inside the Conny limits no matter who or how the animals are delivered to the shelter. Caldwell could have followed Nampa's path, but they did not take that step paying sometimes and not paying other times.

CCW wants to go on record as follows. We do not think it is legal for the county to require additional payment over and above the property tax available to operate an animal shelter. We strongly believe the county authorities are guilty of double taxation without people voting whether or not they are willing to pay more than they are required to pay in property taxes. Even though there seems to be a kind of grey area in state statutes concerning the operation of animal shelters, CCW feels when there is a grey area, our elected officials should always take the road leading to less taxation and if they truly need more money, they should go to the state legislature and get some laws on the books which remove any grey area ,concerning animal shelters, and get laws passed which allow for additional taxation. But in times like now, of great monetary loss for so many people, county officials should not be adding taxes for any reason. In such bad economic times, taxes should only go down to prevent those who control county taxation (the county officials) from becoming a predatory taxing agent, harming those they are indeed supposed to serve.

Actually, information from commissioners, read in the recent article in the paper, seemed to deliberately withhold important facts about related costs of the animal shelter and how the county gets tax dollars to operate the animal shelter. Just last week, in the same meeting when Caldwell agreed to more taxation for city dwellers, ($80,000.00) the county commissioners agreed to allow Caldwell to keep all money paid when some one is required to pay a fine as the result of problems with animals. This clearly demonstrates the county wants to exert power, even if those same actions are in direct conflict with what the county is claiming. ONE HAND GIVETH AND THE OTHER TAKETH AWAY. Why would a government agency get a city mayor in a meeting to insist they pay $80,000.00 additional dollars claiming Caldwell was not doing their fair share and later in the same meeting demonstrate to Caldwell who REALLY has the power and control by allowing Caldwell to keep all their fines assessed because of animal violations? What is this??? If you do what we say Caldwell, we'll throw you some crumbs and treat you nice? Nampa won't play the county's game. It has been a very long time since the county was allowed to keep money from fines issued inside the city limits of Nampa. If fairness is the issue, the county should give Caldwell all previous money from fines for as long as Nampa has kept that money.

When Nampa can hire their own patrol officials and purchase and operate their own trucks for less than the county is trying to force them to pay, the county needs to step back and see where they can indeed save taxes, not increase them. Perhaps the county should purchase trucks for each city and only hire enough officers to patrol the county area. There are many different ways the county could achieve control of animals inside Canyon Co. With so much increased growth in the cities, it is time for the county to allow elected officials for cities to make the decisions which apply to those people living within the city limits.

Commissioners are not elected of make decisions for city dwellers other than taxation of peoples property. The people have decided long ago, they wanted to elect local leaders such as mayors, and city councils, so they are represented by leaders with common interest and needs. Because of this, mayors are required to live inside city limits, near those they serve. The old argument that commissioners are trying to tax those who specifically use the services so others are not required to pay for services we do not use. What hog wash that is!!! Property taxes are many times paid for services a tax payer does not use. Everybody paying taxes does not have children in school. The same is true for many taxes.l

Cities are growing larger and the county area is shirking. Can you picture that? Counties smaller, cities larger!!! The county must allow their control of cities to shrink. The article in the paper your post refers to, leads a reader to glimpse more of a power struggle than a pondering of methods which would be most beneficial to county residents.

The county also struggles to keep control of land use decisions in areas which greatly affect cities, such as use of impact areas. County commissioners need to forget about control and strive toward less government, making sure they are making good, sound decisions about land for which they are responsible. Just recently, CCW read FCO's which indicated county commissioners permitted a developer to change land use, placing over 100 homes on 300 acres with each home allowed to have a domestic well and SEPTIC DRAIN FIELDS One hundred drain systems!!! That decision will be with us for a very long time and is now irreversible. Was the public protected? NO. Commissioners let the attorney for the developers say they would use new, advanced septic systems, but didn't see any reason to put that requirement IN WRITING. When we see much of this kind of governing, we are not too surprised to read about problems and unfair treatment concerning the animals shelter.

CCW greatly dislikes unfunded mandates from any level of government. How many times has CCW heard our elected local leaders rant and rave against unfunded mandates placed upon the county from either state or federal levels of government.

Now look at what our county commissioners are doing to local, taxpayers. Here's the entire picture. See if you agree our commissioners are placing an unfunded mandate on local taxpayer after we voted NO on the bond issue for a new jail.

Since that NO vote, the county is going right ahead and spending millions of dollars in preparation for a new jail. After the NO vote they spent over $2 million on land. After the NO vote, they spent over 2 million in design plans and misc. costs, and now are planning to spend more millions extending sewer and water to the site on 20/26. The Dept. of Transportation claims the county will have to spend millions to
meet requirements for access and paved roads in the prison complex.

After the NO response to the jail bond, the county just went right ahead spending millions. Has this spending of millions indebted us as taxpayers to go ahead and complete the jail at the 20-26 location? How does the public say no after so much public money has been spent after the vote of NO on the initial bond election. What good is a bond election if public officials just ignore the outcome and act as though the public said YES on the bond issue. What is the public supposed to do..just walk away from the 20/26 site after millions have been spent?

ONE READER SENDS: Help me win a bet. I put a $10 spot up and bet my friend all the elected dept. heads at the county courthouse are paid more than $80 Thou. a month. My friend says they none of them are paid more than $60 Thou. a month. Who's right?

COMMENTS: Your both incorrect. Recent documents I received from the county, show all elected officials are paid more than Seventy thousand dollars each year. Then, of course, benefits add on value of another $20,000.00. CCW will report the exact amounts when we post next time.

CCW WANTS TO EXAMINE WHAT IT MEANS WHEN CANDIDATES FOR COUNY OFFICE CAMPAIGN OVER AND OVER CLAIMING THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR GOVERNMENT IS TRANSPARENT OR THEY WANT YOU TO VOTE FOR THEM TO BRING ADDED TRANSPARENCY TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. CCW HAS RECENTLY HAD REASON TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TRANSPARENCY MEANS. JUST GO TO WEBSTER:

TRANSPARENT: BOTH SIDES MAY BE DISTINCTLY SEEN....APPARENT...CLEARCUT...UNDERSTANDABLE...
WITHOUT GUILE OR CONCEALMENT...OPEN-FRANK-CANDID

SO...IF THIS SIMPLE CAMPAIGN PROMISE IS REALIZED, IT WOULD, BY ITSELF CLEAN UP GOVERNMENT AND ONCE AGAIN WE WOULD HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

OPEN, HONEST GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY EXIST WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS GUIDED BY TRANSPARENCY. SHINING LIGHT ON GOVERNMENT BRINGS TRANSPARENCY. HOW SIMPLE.

ONE READERS SENDS:Leaders at the county need to be cleaned out. I wish we could interview and hire leaders to manage our county. Every time I attend a meeting, I leave shaking my head at the incompetence of our county commissioners and the way they knock the city leaders and act like they are so much better than our city mayors. Where I'm from in Texas, we had a county manager and he was beholding to the people who paid him. If he screwed up, he was down the road. Has Idaho used count managers or have they always used elected office holders?

COMMENTS: CCW does not know of any county in Idaho who has a manager form of government. We are not absolutely certain though and will check that out. It has been talked about here and having five commissioners along with a county manager has been purposed as a possible idea.

CCW has been pretty hard on the county leaders and for the most part our complaints have been justified but when we observe change for the better, we must eat some crow and give credit where credit is due. CCW has been listening to several hearings and meetings administered by the county commissioners. It is noticeable that our board chairman, Comm. Ferdinand, is doing a much better job when conducting county meetings. We were pleasantly surprised when listening. He seemed determined to be fair to each department as far as budget cuts and did a pretty good job running a long meeting dealing with changes of zoning ordinances. We were impressed.

Of course, CCW looks forward to our newest commissioner and know she will do a good job and be open to the public. Now that we can public record request recorded copies of meetings, it will be easier for disabled people to keep up with what is going on at the county courthouse. We must give credit when improvement is clear.

ONE READERS SENDS: If the BOCC wants to save some money, they got to cut jobs at that courthouse. I've been up there and seen people sitting around doing nothing or four or five standing around gossiping. I bet they could get by with 1/2 the employees they have.

COMMENT: CCW knows it sounds like a lot of people when you hear that over 800 people work for the county. However, when you split that number up among the numerous departments, it looks a lot different. It is possible employees will be laid off in these bad economic times, but it will be because of lack of money, not poor work habits. Of course there are always some who take advantage and don't work too hard, but CCW has observed and dealt with most of the departments at the county courthouse and we have found the employees to be responsible, professional and helpful. It takes a lot of people to run the court system. It takes a lot of people to run the sheriff''s department. Some departments, like the assessor's office and the treasurer's office rarely add employees to their staff. They have done their job with approximately the same number of employees for years. The prosecutor's office has huge case loads
assigned to each and every attorney in that office. That office cannot function without a solid support staff. Where can cuts be made without affecting services required by law?

Probably in DSD, jobs will go unfilled. That office has seen a dramatic decrease in their work load caused by a lack of building. That department's revenue stream has almost dried up. A lot of revenue from other departments have also decreased dramatically. That's the way public service goes. There's good times and bad times. Some will choose to retire. So, your comments about getting by with 1/2 CCW does not agree with but if the economy continues to dwindle, so will the size of the county workforce.

ONE READER SENDS: Reading this blog I had to laugh. Your county didn't learn a thing from the Young issues. Right now, your sheriff's daughter is working for her dad right in the same courthouse with him. If anybody learned anything at all that would not be going on. It's not what you know but who you know and it always has been. What's the difference, a prosecutor's kid or the sheriff's kid? One gets fired the other gets to keep working.

COMMENTS: Oh boy. You certainly do not have the correct information. First of all, Marcus Young worked in our IT Dept. That department worked daily with our prosecutor's office which of course, is where Dave Young was prosecutor and in charge of that office. So, we had Marcus working, at times, directly with his own father and taking direction from his own father. Dave Young bragged openly, claiming he "got" his son hired. CCW has a letter signed by Dave Young, asking commissioners to give his son a $10,000.00 raise. Even worse, he got that raise. Laws prohibits an employee in public service from working directly for a relative and their are also other laws concerning nepotism.

Our sheriff's daughter does work for the county but she is not working in any department supervised by her father. He doesn't have any kind of influence in the DSD department. His daughter was hired and has always worked in DSD. That is completely legal. CCW hears she is quite a good employee, dealing with land use issues. So, please, where ever you are getting your information, clear it up . Children of elected officials can legally be employed by the county as long as they are not supervised by an elected official relative. The only elected officials who cannot have family members hired is the county commissioners. However, if someone related to a county commissioner is already an employee of the county prior to a county commissioner being elected, they can continue to work for the county but cannot be directly supervised by the commissiioners. CCW does not think this happens very often.

ONE READER SENDS: Here's a splendid tale for your readers. A member of my family was arrested and put in the CC Jail. Money talks, so when we were able to round up some, we bonded him out. Getting him out necessitated us meeting with jailers and believe me, we don't ever want to do that again. Our son went from a young man who made a mistake to scum, anyway that is how he was treated both when we were present and when we were not present. I thought it was up to a judge to pass judgement. Some of those jailers need some training. The section of the jail we saw was not too dirty, but our son complained about filth, especially in the bathrooms. Keep this jail clean or don't get a new one. We can't afford a new jail and I can't afford more taxes.

COMMENTS: CCW is sorry your family had a bad experience. We get a lot of feedback about most county departments and since Smith has been sheriff, 90% of the information about our Canyon Co. deputies is favorable. Over the years we've had numerous favorable comments sent to CCW about our patrol deputies, investigators, and jailers. CCW has pushed for better salaries for law enforcement and one of the reasons was because we get such favorable comments from people about our deputies. Another reason for higher pay, is because all deputies put their lives on the line daily when they put on that badge and can be identified by nuts who generally dislike all law enforcement. Of course, it's a large department and your son must have run up against some who fall in the 10% who get complaints.

Money for a new jail is problematic that's for sure. With a new jail captain, we are sure the jail will get cleaned up and kept clean. There's really no other possibility. Filth breeds disease and cannot be condoned in a public building. CCW does not know why the jail has deteriorated to the state it is in now, called "deplorable" by our county commissioners but we have been told that when the county lost the previous supply deputy, Dep. Couch, the jail started going down hill. Word is she organized cleaning continuously.

Just today we read about more and more people losing jobs not just from large companies, but small companies, even the Statesman in Boise is going to lay off more emplolyees. The sum of all the lost jobs and lost money in the stock market, is not an environment suitable to ask the public to build anything. There are many economists who believe the worst is yet to come. If that's the case, cuts in public spending at the local levels will continue.

ONE READER SENDS: Does the county know that Canyon Co. is the laughing stock of the state on the Dave Young fiasco? Here's my question. Who was giving legal advice about county decisions after the county fired Young's son? wasn't the prosecutor giving legal advise to the very people who fired his son?
I attended a meeting last week and saw a "spoof" about Young and his son. The whole mess is just hard to believe.

COMMENTS: Hopefully, those laughable days are over. Our new prosecutor is all business and knowledgeable and professional. The laughing has stopped. It will be a while before we live down the Young years, but it really was a freak thing. Most people who hold the high office of county prosecutor would not dream of getting their kid a job and seeking raises for their child. We could do a survey of all the counties and I don't think we would find the mess we had in Canyon Co. anywhere else in this state. Whether or not he was giving legal advice to our commissioners, we do not know. They easily could have retained outside legal advice.

CCW does think most of the fault lies with Young concerning the fact that his son worked and was paid a high salary while holding that job. But CCW has a letter sent to us prior to Comm. Lakey leaving county employment. CCW had sent a letter to the commissioners asking for Marcus Young's credentials and why he was working in a job so closely tied to his father's job. Chairman Lakey replied to our questions and went on and on about Marcus Young's credentials. So, there you have it. CCW could only come to the conclusion that the hiring of Young was a political favor since all our elected officials were and are the same political party.

ONE READER SENDS: A neighbor of mine got money from the commissioners to pay for her daughters surgery and bragged about her windfall every time I see her. I didn't know the county was in the welfare business. Who can get money for medical bills?

COMMENTS: This is how CCW understands county "welfare". We do have a welfare department at the courthouse. State law requires the county to pay certain indigent costs for a person who can prove they are indigent. The county can take a lien against certain property owned by the claimed indigent person, but if they do not own anything, of course, no lien if filed. If a lien is filed, the county could sell that property unless the indigent pays back the amount of money awarded. If no private property is involved, and a person proves they are indigent, the county pays up to $10,000.00. If the costs are more than $10,000.00 the state can be asked to pay more. This is a pretty simple explanation, but you can call the welfare department at the county if you have more questions. The money does not come from commissioners, but from tax dollars. The commissioners decide if a indigent application can be paid or not.

COMMENTS: County department heads are being asked to cut, cut, cut from their expenditures in these bad economic times. How then does Comm. Ferdinand explain signing another contract with his old business partner and friend, Rohm? The county paid the following to Mr. Rohm for a contract which was never put out for bid. Maybe county commissioners need to make the first and deepest cuts in their own projects with their friends. CCW understands the county has bought and paid for the software Rohm claims to administrate. Since the plan is for reporting of building inspectors and there is no building to report, this whole NEW contact for $48,000.00 smells.

Since Nov. 2008 Mr Rohm has been paid the following:

11/25/08---$12,000.00
12/10/08---$24,000.00
1/9/09---$10,000.00
1/26/09---$12,000.00

CCW is ticked off over something happening at the courthouse. We are mad as (^&^ and we just aren't going to take it anymore!!!! The public was assured prior to the primary election in 2008 that when the contract awarded to Mr. Rod Rohm was completed, he would not be hired again, without going through a bidding process. Ferdinand admitted he was a friend and former financial business associate. Rule said he would not sign another contract employing that company. Guess what. Some information we have received shows Rohm is receiving sometimes over $12,000.00 a month, while overseeing software not even needed in a county department nearly shut down due to the economy going under. But, prior to a new prosecutor, and a new commissioner, another contract was signed and we are still paying Ferdinand's friend.

Records show thousands and thousands paid out to Rohm since Oct. 2008 each month and is still being paid monthly. Exact amounts will be made available soon.

Here's the kicker. Several departments, including our sheriff's department are being asked to cut everything possible from their budgets, while such crap like this is going on with a commissioner's buddy. We could use that money for our public safety or in the strapped court system which is growing faster than we can keep up with.

ONE READER ASKED: Do the same three county commissioners running the courthouse, supervise the highway district offices? Reading today's newspaper my husband and I noticed a bad report after an audit was done on the little highway districts around the county. Could some of the money going to highway district's be used to build a new jail since it is apparent that money if not being spent to the best advantage of taxpayers?

COMMENTS: Some short answers to your question follow. No, county commissioners do not have access to highway district dollars. They highway districts operate under a levy and are given the appropriate amount of money from our property taxes to keep the roads in their district up to par. Your second answer is no. County commissioners cannot take money from highway districts and use that money for the justice fund. That's a no-no.

Just last year, commissioners spent money from the general fund to get the new jail rolling and the yearly audit hauled them up short telling them how to pay that money back to the general fund. We'll know soon if they listened to the auditors. Wanna bet on that? Who wants to bet in the affirmative, that the commissioners do what the auditor's told them to do? Not CCW! Not taking that bet.

The elected highway district officials around the county would surely disagree that they are not spending their money in the best possible fashion. Would we be better with one state operated highway department so what is going on is monitored for some sort of coordination? When one looks at the problems at the Ada Co. Highway District, it is hard to know if one big district would be best.

ONE READER SENDS: Why don't we just shut the doors at Dale Hale and turn all the criminals loose? You guys against a new jail seem to feel freeing criminals is better than spending a few tax dollars for a new jail to hold as many criminals as possible. I just don't get that kind of thinking. You'll be flooded with criminals.

COMMENTS: Sounds like, unless county commissioners get the Dale Hale institution cleaned up, we will indeed be pushing crooks in one door and crooks out the back door. However, the amount asked for to build a new jail is several times what it costs to build a new school. Good schools turn out citizens who are more likely not to become criminals. CCW bets on schools being more successful than jails. Now, we have a jail to hold the vicious criminals in Canyon co. We don't get too many vicious criminals. Go to the county web site and click on jail roster. Click on current arrests. You can easily understand who is vicious and who is perfectly able to be placed in some other kind of detention which allows productivity.

The most often offense noted is probation violation. Then we find immigration hold, failure to purchase insurance, (now we are really afraid of violator of that offense) Paraphanalia with intent to deliver, driving without privileges, malicious property, disorderly conduct, failure to appear, frequenting place drugs are used, no license for concealed weapon.

CCW attended the first meeting at the courthouse when the initial bond for building a new jail was discussed. Since we had a new sheriff, CCW attended and stated publicallly we would fully support the sheriff in his journey for a new jail, if he promised to incorporate programs which would allow for schooling and teaching prisoners a trade. We kept our promise for over three years. So absolutely nothing from us in the papers, lips were sealed.

The events which followed that initial meeting are simply indescribable and extremely hard to believe. Meetings were held. Some deputies involved in getting out the information about the jail have found it necessary to move on away from Canyon Co. One week we heard one plan and soon Comm. Beebe had added some more demands to his "justice Center". Land was purchased and sold to save commissioners butts because of illegal steps taken when purchasing the land, with the help of the Idaho Assoc. of Counties. Then the stacked deck started with Comm. Ferdinand and his famous "citizen's committee".
Who knows what theses citizens were told, but one thing is for sure, they were used and commissioners came out smelling like a rose, instead of a skunk. More land was purchased.

Still, even with a failed bond, county money is being spent piece meal a few millions here a few million there for a new jail. If commissioners can get the county in deep enough, it is hoping they can call on citizens to save them since so much public money has already been spent. Actually, they don't even hide their plan. Sewer and water is next. When that step is complete, the massive road building which will required for legal access, will begin. Millions more spent. All left will be the actual structure of the jail.

Then of course, the asked but unanswered question about how much it will cost the county to run a new jail along with the old jail? (At last count they women got the old jail) Now that jail is quite dirty and as our commissioners claim, "in deplorable condition." Commissioners cannot come up with a figure about how much it will cost us on a yearly basis to run the old and the new. They say, "trust us."

CCW has no hard feelings toward the sheriff's department for wanting a new jail and showing the public what we do have right now for locking up those who break the law. It is the sheriff's job to let us know what is what and if he feels a new jail is needed, then he should tell us. He has told us. No one can spend money in the county without the approval of county commissioners. NO ONE. So, once again, after three years of keeping quiet, CCW will put our trust in new schools and hopefully a large rehab center which will help keep our jail population down. We cannot trust the counties ability to build a jail we can afford to run. We are being asked to trust two commissioners who have bankrupted themselves personally, one of them can't even save an email. No thanks...no trust!!! Bring on the new schools Canyon County!!!!!

CCW must disagree with this reader. Keeping violent prisoners off our streets can be accomplished with the jail we have now. That has been clearly demonstrated.

ONE READER SENDS: I recently read a comment prior to the general elections which has stayed with me since it seemed to pinpoint a problem with newly elected people in local government who after elected seem to want to be buddies with their party loyals, and already installed elected officials, over and above serving the voters. In one of the local papers I read a comment I agreed with and it has stuck with me. "I wish we could count on a majority of elected officials who were knowledgeable and competent, not just likable."

I'm from Kuna and we are kind of in that no man's land on the Canyon Ada Co. line, so need to watch the
goings on in both areas. I'm a reader of the Kuna- Melba News, and some recent information in my paper bothers me.

It was reported the paper had sent a freedom of information request to Canyon. C. Comm. asking for a copy of an email belittling our nations new first land, Michelle Obama, which had been sent out by Comm. Steven Rule, to as he claimed 26 or his friends and elected officials." Rule admitted using his official county email to send the email but said he had destroyed the email and did not save already sent emails. When the paper decided that county emails might be automatically purged every thirty days, the paper sent another request asking for the same information from a different department.

I was surprised when I learned both denials had been sent from that counties legal departments, and signed by a deputy prosecutor. One of my favorites of my computer is that all emails are saved when sent. If I need to access that information, it is simple. Why would a government entity not merely as a protective measure, save all email responses from officials? It seems like the blame for not saving official emails could raise an ugly head at a lot of different times.

Another conversation with our Kuna paper allowed me to know my thinking was not isolated on this subject and they too, thought they had been denied a perfectly legal freedom of information request.

We've heard that Mr. Rule is quite a likable fellow and has a flashing smile with snapping blue eyes. Does he really believe one person reading his explanation of "not saving" is meaningful or truthful? This takes me back to my original thesis. Can we please get some elected officials who are competent and knowledgeable not just likable?"

What is the process for getting freedom of information from Canyon or Ada Co?

COMMENTS: CCW used to subscribe to that paper. Looks like we better renew our subscription. We are being asked to believe it is lawful for Rule to deny a request for information he produced and released publicly, because he failed to save it on his computer!!!!! Your request was timely. You have 180 days to ask for that information and if not filled to your requirements, you have a legal right to take the matter to District Court. 180 DAYS! Rule has been at the county several years, and was in public service for the city of Middleton prior to coming to Canyon Co. He knows the rules. He knows the laws. He thinks he has found a sure fire way to break the law. He lets his loose lips run and then dumps the results on our county prosecutor's office to save his back side.

How can any commissioner in office throughout the Marcus Young fiasco claim the information is gone because they did not "SAVE" it? MARCUS YOUNG sure wishes right now the county computers he used had not SAVED all the emails he had been getting showing explicitly sexual pictures of young ladies. Young's own father, our then prosecutor, Dave Young, actually destroyed his own county issued computer, the same night Marcus, his son was arrested. The public was asked to believe there was no officials record of the computer issued to Dave Young which has disappeared. RIGHT!!! Makes one wonder if Marcus regularly sent colorful information to his father? There was only one way to know and it disappeared.

Oh, Rule's comments are easily obtained but he is refusing to release them to our prosecutor's office, claiming he didn't save them. You're stuck unless you file with the district court within 180 days. That is the law. It stands to reason that if you are given 180 under the law, to protest a failed records request, that the official document must be saved for at least 180 days.

Rule has figured out that most people do not have the money or time or knowledge to take him to court to force the production of that email. He is playing the odds, one more time. He does not want you, any newspaper, or anybody else to know who he sent those emails to, because he claims they were his friends. Maybe there were people receiving those emails who wished they had not received them and wouldn't cover for him. Who knows, but he sure doesn't want to give up copies that email. He made it all the way to the national news, worst person in the world, with that frivolous statement and he is not going to produce that email unless under the threat of jail from a court. That's the sad fact of the matter.

CCW has great success with public records requests. Here's the process. Get a county form or make your own form with at least as much information on it as is found on the county form. Send your request to the department involved. Policy set my elected officials running their departments are known by employees and followed. You may receive small requests by mail or pick them up at the courthouse. Some times there is a small fee, but usually not unless the request goes over 100 pages. The employees we deal with in public offices at the courthouse are knowledgeable, pleasant and if left to their own devices, our courthouse would run efficiently and swiftly. It's when a profoundly insecure elected official screws up the process that problems occur. Then, of course, you have 180 days to take him to court.