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Bond Election Moves Forward for February 5 Vote

Posted on: December 14, 2007

By Becky Ponkow

The Pocatello City Council joined Chubbuck in approving a special election for a bond renovating Idaho State University’s Holt Arena. During the special Council Meeting held December 13, 2007 Mayor Roger Chase outlined many of the same concerns Chubbuck Mayor Steve England had noted at the Chubbuck Council Meeting last Tuesday. Chase stated that tourism is Pocatello’s 3rd largest industry and the Holt Arena is a large part of that success.

In a money saving move, the City also reduced their precinct from 16 to 8 for this election saving cost on precinct workers for the February 5 election.

Councilman Ron Frasure questioned why the election was being held in February instead of April when the primary elections will be held. Chase said that although that was considered, the committee members felt that the Holt Arena was a large enough issue to warrant a stand alone election. Frasure noted that some citizens have felt that special elections are held to assure that only the most ardent voter will actually vote. The Mayor said that numbers of voters were considered; however, it was deemed to be in the best interest of the bond issue to have the February date.

Citizen’s from both cities will be asked to approve the measure which requires a 2/3 yes vote in both cities to pass. Passage of the bond would insure 60 days per year rent free to the cities for community events and 18 days per year for School District 25. The ticket sales will have a surcharge that will be split evenly between retiring the bond early and funding a maintenance fund that will begin with a $4 million balance.

Councilman Brian Underwood noted that the people will make the choice and “Holt Arena is a central part of our Community.”

Your Comments

I read with dismay the articles presenting the merits of the citizens of Pocatello and Chubbuck funding a renovation of the Holt Arena. I have lived in this area for some tie now. Every time I have attended a function at the Holt Arena I have had to purchase tickets for the event. I do not berudge the university for this money. They are fully justified in charging for the events they host here. Good quality offerings will generate the ticket sales necessary for Holt Arena to be self sustaining. This should be where the funds for the Hold Arenas renovation are generated. NOT FROM CITIZENS WHO ALREADY PAY TO ATTEND THE EVENTS HOSTED THERE !

— Karl Binz · Jan 6, 11:55 AM · #
I agree with you Karl. I don’t doubt the usefullness to the community of having Holt Arena, but I think that it should be funded by user fees. Bannock County seems to be in a race to be the undisputed king of high property taxes in Idaho. Also, I am dissapointed to see ISU staff using the state funded email system to campaign in favor of the vote.

— Anonymous · Jan 17, 01:26 PM · #
It’s the chicken and the egg. Sure, “good quality offerings will generate the ticket sales necessary…” The problem is, the facility is lacking in so much RIGHT NOW that it can’t draw these high quality offerings. Big name concerts, broadway shows, and NBA exhibitions are events which currently can’t use Holt. We can argue what coulda/woulda/shoulda been done. The fact is, Pocatello and ISU can partner up to have something few communities of similiar size have. An administration of the last 25 years neglected Holt — remember when the president banned concerts? How did he think this lack of revenue would “help” Holt?

Regardless, it’s time to forget the blame game. Let’s forget any biases we have toward ISU, the city administration, or personnel. Pocatello has an opportunity to support a major arena “on the cheap” (better than Poky having it’s own), and it could actually draw millions and millions MORE money into the local economy.

Vote YES!

— HCP · Jan 21, 04:43 PM · #