Columns

Credit Where It's Due

Posted on: August 22, 2007

By Becky Ponkow

Many of you know that I have been critical of our local governments more than once. However, after watching Mayor Chase and two Pocatello councils I have to stop and give praise where it is due.

The Mayor inherited Chief Financial Officer Dave Swindell and a $4 million hole in the budget that threatened to cause significant cuts in services if something wasn’t done quickly. Then Council President Harry Neuhardt and the Mayor worked with Swindell to make hard choices.

Under Neuhardt’s encouragement, Swindell began educating the Council on how the budget was constrained. Swindell changed reports so the Council and public could easily understand them and put together a plan that with the support of Chase, Neuhardt, and the Council put the City on a path to correcting its issues. Department heads like Robert Chambers and Greg Lanning were allowed to do the work they’re trained for and as a result Old Town looks better than it has in years, Hoku chose to locate its plant here in Pocatello, and others like Isoray will probably locate here.

Teamwork between the City, Pocatello Development Corporation, and Bannock Development Corp. Executive Director, Gynii Gilliam, have allowed an environment that actually is allowing business to flourish.

Mayor Chase has overseen improved road conditions, increased prosperity, more community pride, and generally a more vibrant community. He recently asked difficult questions of Portneuf Medical Center – not to take sides but to make sure that the interests of Pocatello Citizens are protected. It’s his job and the community should stand behind him as he acts as their representative. He is in process with the City staff and Council on evaluating the proposed agreement for the North County Sewer. The Mayor has stated repeatedly that the Citizens of Pocatello have paid for capacity at the sewer treatment plant that would allow them to meet the needs of the community for the next 20 years. He has also committed to make sure that the capacity stays intact by requiring that some sort of impact fee is part of the agreement allowing expansion to the existing system for additions from the Tyhee area.

To the Mayor and Council’s credit, they have implemented water, sewer, and sanitation fee increases in a measured manner so that the need for large increases like those in 2002? will not hamper the economy of the City again. Pocatello Development Authority (PDA) under the Presidencies of Harry Neuhardt and now Steve Brown have closed two TIF Districts and implemented a more methodical measured approach on which projects they will take. The PDA is much more particular and project oriented than in the past and additionally is holding those in charge of those projects accountable to what they presented to the board. With the addition of a City engineer that oversees the TIF projects the PDA was actually able to see the North Yellowstone Project come in under budget – something that had not occurred before.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe citizens should question how much Enterprise funds should profit, what services the City should actually provide, and what it will take to make the City even better. We will be dealing more and more with growth and balancing what makes our valley special. We will need to be vigilant on what our City is doing and how it is serving the citizens, but we also need to say job well done to the Mayor and Council for standing up for what they believe needs to happen even when it is politically unpopular.

The Mayor and Councils have done a great job with a difficult situation but it’s time for us to get out of our homes and be good stewards for our children. We need to voice our support and dismay so that our elected officials know the real issues. We need to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Involvement is paramount in a growing community – you don’t have to be part of any group; you don’t need an invitation – public means just that, anyone can come to a public meeting at the City, County, School District, and Portneuf Medical Center. It’s time we started understanding what is happening in our community and instead of being silent when we’re happy and vocal when we are irate always be involved.

So, I say great job to Mayor Chase, former Councilman Neuhardt, current Pocatello Council, and City Staff. Good for you – and I’ll still be watching.

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