The Train Has Stopped…Now Hit Reverse

After watching its credibility go down the drain, the Eagle City Council took the first step to stop the leak. Councilman Norm Semanko proposed a new Ordinance 601 that will repeal the Water Tax LID Ordinance 571. Good job Norm. This is kind of like the 21st Amendment repealing the 18th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. The new ordinance has to be read several times before it can be voted on.

Evidently the City Council and Mayor reread the Idaho Constitution and realized its illegal to buy a water company with an LID scheme. Article 8 Section 3 is unambiguous: buying a water company requires a vote of the citizens. So they also approved a motion to study holding a bond election. This is another step in the right direction.

However, what was missing in the meeting was a motion to get at least two independent appraisals. To plug the hole in the trust dike, the City must then make the independent appraisals and all relevant information available to the voters to consider before holding the bond election.

The new councilmen Semanko, Shoushtarian and Huffaker inherited the LID problem from the previous administration. We commend them for hitting the flush lever.

You can download Ordinance 601 at:
EagleWaterTax.com