[Vision2020] IBTA Decision

[DonaldH675 at aol.com]

Visionaries:

Although we were pleased that the property tax decision  of the Latah County 
BOE were upheld regarding the northern parcel of NSA and  Anselm House, we 
have concerns about the IBTA recusals.  Our concerns  translated into direct 
action immediately after the decision was  announced.  On March 22, 2004 the 
following email was sent to Ms. Sue  Renfro, of the IBTA to be forwarded to Mr. 
Cobbs,  Mr. Kinghorn, and Ms.  Robertson.

Dear Mr. Cobbs, Mr. Kinghorn, Ms. Robertson:

We  have received the certified letters with IBTA decisions regarding the
Matter  of the Appeal of Board of Trustees of the New St. Andrews College
Trust and  the Appeal of Huskey/Lund from the decision of the Latah County 
Board of  Equalization for the tax year 2004.  Appeal Nos. 04-A-2192 &  
04-A-2214.

We understand that Mr. Cobb and Mr.  David E.  Kinghorn  have recused
themselves.  It is important to us, and to  any future appeals we may make to 
the IBTA, to understand the circumstances  surrounding this decision.  Please 
clarify the following  statements:

"On March 15, 2005, Board Members Lyle R. Cobbs and David E.  Kinghorn,
following earnest deliberation, recused themselves from further  proceedings
in this consolidated appeal.  Said Members offer, they have  been
individually subjected to information affecting their impartiality  and
ability to consider the record in a fair and just manner.  The Board  holds
it unwise to now deliberate these complex administrative  appeals."

We request a complete and full explanation of any and all  information, and
from whom this information was proffered, (outside the  official documents
included in the record).   Who inappropriately  contacted or communicated
with them regarding this matter?  We request  copies of that communication,
if written.  If the communication was  oral, for example, by telephone, we
request a summary of that communication  and the name of the person who
contacted them.  If inappropriate private  conversations on this matter took
place, we ask to have the people identified  who engaged in the conversation
and a summary of those conversation(s).   Was Ms. Lisa Robertson contacted or 
"individually subjected" to this  information.  Was this contact made at
their home or through their place  of business?  

We appreciate Mr. Kinghorn's and Mr. Cobbs' integrity  in this matter.
However, if these hearings have been contaminated by  unintentional or
intentional acts, we believe that as participants in the  process we have the
right to a full disclosure of the circumstances  surrounding
their decision and actions.

Please consider this email a  public records request pursuant to the Freedom
of Information Act.  We  ask for un-redacted copies of any and all notes or
minutes  taken during  the official consideration of this matter. 

Sincerely,
Saundra  Lund                        Rosemary Huskey


I called the IBTA on Thursday to confirm  that the email had been received.
It had.  I spoke to Ms. Renfro a few  minutes ago and learned that our
request has been forwarded to the Attorney  General's office for an opinion.

Let us be perfectly clear.  Neither  Saundra nor I have ever spoken to or
communicated directly with Mr. Kinghorn  or Ms. Robertson.  The only direct 
contact we have ever had with Mr. Cobbs  was to testify at the public
hearing.  Following the hearing we may have  sent (again through Ms. Renfro) 
a brief one or two line thank you note to the  IBTA for the opportunity to 
bring the appeal.  There certainly would not  have been any discussion of the 
facts of the case.  Further, we have no  knowledge (direct  or indirect) of 
anyone contacting these men about this  (or any other matter).

As usual, Saundra and I will make public any/all  records received as a 
consequence of our public records request.  Mr.  Dickison has notified us that he 
is filed a motion dated March 26, 2005 (4 days  after we had responded to the 
IBTA) for reconsideration with the IBTA.   Saundra and I briefly considered 
that option but rejected it since we didn't  understand how they could fairly 
reconsider what they had just refused to  consider.  

Saundra Lund   and Rose Huskey

"One  cannot level one's moral lance at every evil in the universe. There are
just  too many of them. But you can do something, and the difference between 
doing  something and doing nothing is everything." Daniel  Berrigan
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