Local Candidate Forum Held in Island Park

I attended a candidate forum last Tuesday at the EMS building. The candidates for State Representative seats 35a and 35b, two Fremont County Commissioner positions and the Fremont County Prosecutor were in attendance. They were each given the opportunity to explain why they should be considered for the position and each responded to a few related questions submitted by the audience. Here are my impressions of the candidates based on the forum.

State Representative 35a

Van Burtenshaw (incumbent) was very much aware of the state budgeting process and expressed a commitment to take care of state workers and teachers. He also was proud of his assistance in opposing the Island Park National Monument by introducing the resolution in the state legislature.

Daniel Davis emphasized that he was a strict constitutionalist which would be great if he was running for national office. He proclaimed that according to the constitution, the federal government had no right to own any property and that all the national forest lands belong to the states. I have bad news for Mr. Davis, that ship sailed well over a century ago. Without presenting any specifics on what he would do if elected, I am not sure he would be an effective state representative.

State Representative 35b

Paul Romrell (incumbent) was also obviously very seasoned in the state budgeting process. He has been working to use the increase in the state gas tax to repair Highway 20 through the caldera. While this year is going to be only patching, chip and seal, he hopes to have the road rebuilt within the next couple of years.

Karey Hanks is a local school bus driver who also identified herself as a strict constitutionalist. She spent most of her time telling of hours spent with local school children, conveying the importance and her love of the constitution. She was less clear about what she hoped to accomplish if elected.

Fremont County Prosecutor

Karl Lewies (incumbent) is a polished attorney who spent his time addressing the complaints issued against him by his opponent. He explained that he handles the criminal prosecutions and that his deputy handles the civil actions, including the Commissioners’ meetings. He does case preparation on Mondays for upcoming trials and the meetings are also on Mondays. Regarding his private practice, he advised that since Fremont County is not the hotbed of criminal activity, he has intermittent time that is available. He uses the time productively to practice law in his private practice. 

Marcia Murdoch presented two issues regarding Mr. Lewies that she felt needed to be addressed. First, Mr. Lewies does not attend the County Commissioners’ meetings but delegates that duty to his deputy. Second, Mr. Lewies maintains a private practice while serving as county attorney. Ms. Murdoch promised to attend the Commissioners’ meetings personally and not maintain a private practice. Regardless of whether one thinks that these issues are important, at least someone studied and found areas to distinguish themselves from their rival. 

Fremont County Commissioners

The county commissioners have made several mistakes over the last few years that have caused many to question their judgement.

Let’s pick three:

The county commissioners hired Jan Brown and Tom Cluff. The two of them got involved in what amounted to encouraging outside organizations interested in establishing the Island Park National Monument. Residents throughout Fremont County have spent hundreds of hours working to offset the damage caused by the county employees.

The 150 percent increase in the landfill fee was a result of a failure to act in a timely manner. The closing of the Saint Anthony landfill has been pending for almost a decade and some of the expenses involved in that task should have been foreseen. A modest fee increase several years ago dedicated to that task would have avoided such a burdensome increase.

The City of Teton declined an application to rezone a rural property in a residential area near the river to allow a multi-acre open gravel pit. The County Commissioners overruled the local planning/zoning committee and allowed the pit. The City sued the County and the County lost. It cost the County $13,000 for the legal fees of the City of Teton.

Fremont County Commissioner

Leroy “Lee” Miller (incumbent) discussed the procured grant to widen and improve the Yale-Kilgore Road. He also discussed the commissioners’ commitment to opposing the national monument. He also admitted that the county made a mistake in approving the gravel pit and getting stuck with Teton’s legal fees.

Larry Singleton is a rancher who expressed a desire to add the perspective of the agri-businesses of Fremont County. He was concerned about spending but left little meat on the bones when discussing the inadequacies or mistakes of the current commissioners.

Fremont County Commissioner

Jordon Stoddard touted his on-site supervision of the county employees and his personal response to county residents’ concerns. He defended Jan Brown and Tom Cluff, disagreeing with the characterization of their involvement in the national monument fiasco.

Val Hammond is also involved in agri-business and seemed to be well organized. The increasing county budget was also his main concern. He discussed the thirteen thousand dollars that the county had to be after losing a lawsuit filed by the city of Teton over a zoning mistake made by the county.

Idaho has the advantage of being a conservative state. None of these races are as dramatic as picking between Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz. All of the candidates are good people. Local voters have some interesting choices in the upcoming primary election. Good Luck!

Landfill Fees and Roofless Castles

Fremont County has proposed significantly increasing the landfill fee on county residents by approximately one hundred and fifty percent. The fee increase is necessitated by work that must be done to the county landfill located on the flat. While residents may find an increase of fifteen dollars a month manageable, Island Park businesses will not be so lucky. One business owner advised me that the total landfill fees for his rental cabins will increase by eleven thousand dollars per year.

The landfill fees are much higher for commercial properties than for residences. Business owners of Island Park struggle with limited seasons to earn money and many find it cheaper to shut down in spring and fall. The landfill fee schedule gives no relief for businesses that are not operating during several months of the year and therefore do not use the landfill.  What makes it even more ironic is that the landfill they are being asked to sacrifice for is not the one they use.

Businesses of the caldera have already been hit by a disastrous Labor Day weekend (it rained all weekend) and a short, lean snow season. Now they are asked along with the other residents to pony up a substantial increase in landfill fees to address a problem that has languished for several years.

After World War II, the British government instituted a roof tax. The amount of tax owed was determined by the square footage of a building’s roof. Several families who owned historic castles deliberately caved in the roofs of the medieval buildings rather than pay the substantial tax out of necessity or protest.

The United States Postal Service has continually increased postage in an effort to cover their financial obligations. What they have proven is that as prices rise, the public searches for alternatives to avoid the cost increases. Now they are faced with closing mail distribution centers and reducing services. These cost-cutting measures will result in less revenue than are currently enjoyed.

The county commissioners should look for a formula to address the financial need of the landfill that takes into account actual usage of the landfills. I know of one business which is applying to sell off their rental cabins individually. This will greatly reduce the fees owed to the county. Others are considering removing less profitable structures from their properties. Either way, the county will fail to generate the funds they require if they continue down this road. 

A Lack of Strategy

Last week’s city council meeting saw an increase in local interest due to a briefing on the Teton View Regional Plan by Tom Cluff, Planning and Building Administrator of Fremont County. The interest of the standing-room-only crowd had more to do with recent revelations regarding pro-national monument activity found in Jan Brown-related emails.

I arrived early to find a nervous Mr. Cluff setting up his video presentation. As the citizens arrived, so did two Fremont County Deputies, apparently dispatched to protect Tom from the angry hoards. While the meeting structure did not allow for audience comments, the three members of the council questioned Mr. Cluff about the Teton View Plan and how it related to any movement towards the national monument. He denied any linkage.

I, like most of Fremont Country residents, have opposed the monument proposal from the beginning. No good can come from getting the federal government more involved in managing Island Park. I was disheartened that someone in Fremont County found it necessary to send deputies to protect Mr. Cluff.  When rhetoric is perceived as threatening by our neighbors on the flat, a reevaluation of strategy is in order.

One of the options in the Teton View Regional Plan is to create a green energy bus hub to bus visitors into Yellowstone Park. Such a bus system would be devastating to the businesses in the caldera. While all proposals are simply options that can be pursued by counties from Madison north, what would stop Rexburg or St Anthony from hosting the hub? Island Park could find itself waving at busloads of tourists as they pass by on their way to West Yellowstone. The only way to ensure that such a proposal does not become a reality is to close ranks with those involved.

Pursuing a more productive relationship is in everyone’s best interest. I would begin with the Fremont County Commissioners. Hiring Jan Brown without vetting her properly was a mistake that they own. They know it. Jan’s services to the county reportedly end in May. The damage that has been done by one individual in this case is considerable but not irreparable.

Island Park should be proactive when dealing with the green central planners. That requires a strategy and being pissed is not a strategy! We need to win the hearts and minds of the people. First in Fremont County, next Eastern Idaho, expand to the rest of the state and finally the nation if we want to keep Island Park under local control. 

Hoisted on Your Own Petard

I have known Ken Corbridge Jr. for more than 30 years and it takes a lot to upset him. It is evident from his open letter that the apparent actions of Fremont County employees have breached that threshold. Since the initiation of the effort to establish a national monument was done with the help of current county employees, it is small wonder why the residents are not convinced that the effort has been halted.

Anytime an effort of this magnitude is undertaken those most affected should be consulted first. Since that did not happen, the trust in some county employees/officials has been damaged. This controversy was created by those who are currently working for Fremont County with at least a lack of oversight by the Commissioners.

Fremont County should not be upset with the outrage displayed by residents when it was their people who created the problem. The trust can be restored between all parties but it is time for a truthful and honest dialogue.

Island Park vs The Druids

Last Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend a public meeting on the Island Park National Monument designation. It was sponsored by the local Chamber, the Caldera Heritage Coalition and the Idaho Recreation Council. The event was well attended and was hosted by Ken Watts.

The presentation to State and Federal officials of petition signatures and the results of November’s advisory vote (93% against) was discussed. Staff members of our congressional representatives were in attendance to recount what was being done in our behalf to stave off the National Monument designation. Mr. Watts listed some of the environmental groups working for monument designation and the hundreds of thousands of dollars being funneled to them. It was difficult not to feel overwhelmed.

Environmental activism has become the religion of the secular left. They embrace the theology that humans are not part of the ecosystem. This overindulgent emphasis on the sanctity of “Mother Earth” is reminiscent of ancient druids.   The druids were an educated, professional class of Iron Age Celts centered in the British Isles and Gaul. Their religion was nature-centric.

Religious movements can become oppressive or even tyrannical when they are willing to use the power of the state to enforce their beliefs. The current administration has proven itself to be true believers in the gospel of global warming and environmental activism. Last week the Obama administration announced that it would seek wilderness protection for twelve million acres of Alaska. 

This action was conceived without consulting Alaskans. A 60 second video released by the president served as the state’s notification. 

While it is essential that the efforts of the “Say No to the National Monument” movement continue, the current administration will give no credence to the opinions of the “non-believers”. Our best hope is that congress will withdraw the presidential power of unilateral monument designations and that the Island Park National Monument is not high enough priority for a declaration to be made in the interim.

Citizens of Fremont County should demand that our county leaders 

do not employ those who secretly work against the will of the residents. This mess was created when a study group headed by county employees spent a couple of days pitching the idea of a National Monument to environmental groups. Thanks a lot!

Island Park doesn’t need an influx of druids to tell us how to protect the caldera. Local residents are great stewards of the environment. Druids should congregate at Stonehenge instead.       

Someone Kicked a Hornet’s Nest

The responsiveness of local government was on display at the Island Park Community meeting with the Fremont County Commissioners. The topic was the Island Park National Monument study initiated by Fremont County Planning and Building Department.

The capacity crowd left no doubt that there was widespread interest in the future of Island Park. Tom Cluff, the administrator of the Fremont County Planning and Building Dept., indicated that in response to chatter of possible consideration of National Monument designation, the county had decided to be proactive. A HUD grant was obtained to conduct a study of the Island Park caldera in the hope of heading off such a designation.

The commissioning of the study was interpreted as county government approval of the National Monument. This perception was reinforced when Jan Brown of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition was hired by the County as a consultant for the study. It was assumed that the continuing restrictions within Yellowstone Park would bleed over into Island Park if the same voices were involved.

Mr. Cluff announced that the study had been called off and that there was no interest in promoting a National Monument. He advised that there was still seventy five thousand dollars of HUD money available to conduct a yet to be determined study.

After his presentation, each County Commissioner took their turn apologizing for the misunderstanding and promising to do all in their power to discourage the monument designation. To their credit, three more humble public servants I had not seen.

This is precisely why local control is so important. When politicians deal with friends and neighbors, the opinions of those residents are much more important.

A proposal made at the meeting was to put the question on November’s ballot, asking Fremont County voters if they are in favor of a National Monument designation. The response would arm county officials if the designation ever gathers steam. Not a bad idea.

As far as the $75K still kicking around, I would suggest that the county study how to protect habitat and wildlife while improving the experience in Island Park for ATV/snowmobile riders, hunters, anglers, campers and hikers.