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BARRETT RAINEY Second Thoughts |
Live long enough and that old saw “all things old are new again†will have more meaning. The six communities of Idaho’s Ada County may be about to step into a time warp and make the “old new again.†It appears political bubbling and boiling just beneath the surface could soon break out with a decision - likely in court - to return control of county roads to cities. For many of the same reasons the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) was created in the first place 40+ years ago. How’s that for irony?
In the ‘70's, the hot topic was how those six local governments could save taxpayers so much money on road and highway care if they threw all their various road departments into a central unified “highway district.†After all, six highway departments were just “creating lots of duplication.†Just made all the sense in the world!
And it was so.
But, shortly after creation, you could hear whispers of discontent. “We’ve lost control of our streets.†“Our taxes are subsidizing all the others.†“Another level of government we just don’t need.†“Boise’s going to get more money than us.†Etc. Etc. Etc.
And it was so.
I don’t recall a year from creation of ACHD to now that there hasn’t been bitching about something. Though directors of ACHD are elected from districts more or less representative of all six communities - plus the rural areas - there have always been battles about distribution of dollars, cars versus bikes, mass transit versus more roads, who gets what, where the new roads will go, snow removal, where maintenance should be done and how much. And on and on and on. Long ago, ACHD should have hired Ann Landers or “Dear Abby†to keep peace in its multi-governmental “family.â€
Case in point. Boise recently installed some new computerized parking meters around town. If a car left a spot with time remaining on the meters, these electronic bandits would “zero out†so the new occupant couldn’t get a break. After an expensive installation, ACHD said Boise didn’t own the parking spaces, had not applied for “permission†and should take ‘em out. Post haste!
And it was so.
With a whole new round of bitching. (more…)