Correlation Between Age and Political Position?

In “The cool kids vs. curmudgeons on the streetcar” an opinion piece that appeared in yesterday’s Idaho Statesman, Kevin Richert outlined Boise Mayor Dave Bieter’s latest strategy for promoting his $60 million boondoggle, the downtown Boise streetcar.

Richert’s piece has a new explanation for the difference of opinion between streetcar enthusiasts and detractors. “Part of the divide is generational, says Bieter; younger business leaders tend to support the idea. But Bieter also breaks things down as a schism between the ‘institutional’ Downtown and the ‘entrepreneurial’ Downtown. The entrepreneurs, he says, see an amenity that will draw talented workers and promote a green economy.”

“’They have a vested interest in that economy being vibrant, being entrepreneurial, and being future-oriented,’ Bieter told the Statesman editorial board Tuesday.

“So you can be one of those stodgy Downtown fogies and oppose the streetcar, or you can join all the cool kids and hop on board. No peer pressure there, huh?”

Richert is right on with his editorial and I have news for Mayor Bieter. I am years younger than he is and I oppose the downtown Boise streetcar. In this particular case, age is clearly not the determining factor.

Consolidation Saves Money

At Ada County, we have been working diligently to ensure that tax and fee payers pay no more than necessary for county services. One of the tools we have used to cut costs without adversely affecting service is consolidation.

The Communications Department has been consolidated into the Department of Administration, and two positions were eliminated, saving taxpayers almost $192,000. Additional savings from the subsequent reorganization of the Department of Administration saved another $57,000.

When long-time Solid Waste Services Director Dave Neal retired late last year after 34 years of service to the County, we consolidated the landfill under the Operations Department, saving tax and fee payers nearly $88,000.

Mr. Neal did a tremendous job managing the landfill and was instrumental in bringing the Gas-to-Energy program to Ada County in which a private company burns the methane gas generated by the landfill and converts it to energy. Not only does this program eliminate much of the odor affiliated with landfill gas, but it helps the county meet EPA and DEQ requirements for disposal of the gas as well. An added benefit is the fact that the program generates about a quarter of a million dollars worth of revenue for the landfill, allowing the county to keep fees at least somewhat lower than they would otherwise be.

The Gas-to-Energy program saves additional dollars, as well. Last year, DEQ initially wanted the county to place an additional landfill gas-burning flare at the landfill – at a cost of nearly $1 million -- to continue to address landfill gas issues; however, Commission Chairman Fred Tilman worked closely with DEQ leaders and was able to get them to accept the gas-to-energy engines in lieu of another costly flare.

Total savings to county tax and fee payers: Over $1.3 million.

Words Matter

Intentions matter. An issue I thought had been resolved the first time I held a seat on the Board of Ada County Commissioners has come back around.

The Prosecutor’s Office uses a standardized form to create Resolutions for the Board to consider, containing the following language:

“AT A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ADA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, State of Idaho, on the _____ day of __________, 2010, the following Resolution was unanimously adopted, to wit:”

Unless the Idaho Open Meeting Law is being violated, who knows whether any given Resolution will be adopted unanimously before the actual vote is taken?! And what purpose does the word even serve?

In fairness, there are a few circumstances under which the Board must make a unanimous decision, such as entering into a five-year lease for county property without a bid process, but they are few and far between.

When this matter was brought to his attention, Ada County’s Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ted Argyle indicated he would immediately have the issue addressed by changing the standardized form.

It is presumptuous to assume that this Board, or any other, will always act in unison.