[Vision2020] Hawkins Water & Sewer Agreement

[Ted Moffett]

Chas et. al.

I do not know for sure whether the deal with Hawkins and the city of Moscow
is the best option in the long term for the economy of Moscow, or whether
"special interests" were served at the expense of Moscow taxpayers and
businesses.  However, that the issues of CO2 related climate change, fossil
fuel depletion, and sustainability, do not appear to have been substantively
addressed, is irresponsible, in my opinion, and in the long run may have
deleterious economic impacts. The economic issues probably can't be answered
with certainty given the uncertainty of what will happen to the US economy
and world oil supplies and markets in 10, 20, 30m years out, not to mention
accelerating climate change and pending regulations effecting CO2 emissions
for cars, trucks, and electricity generation.

The issue I posed is whether or not public business impacting taxpayers
should be conducted in secret by elected officials.  This issue is still a
concern even if the Moscow City Council's deal with Hawkins is in the best
interest of the city of Moscow  Yes, this question has been posed over and
over, and some on this list are working on parsing through the details.

Some will argue that in principle it is unethical for the public's business
to be conducted in secret (well, except national security issues, not
relevant here) no matter how well intentioned or what positive impacts
result.  It sets a precedent that gives cover for future corruption and
cronyism,  Is this not why Idaho has an open meeting law, in theory
governing such conduct?

How can we have an informed opinion of what occurred at the meetings with
Hawkins when the details are secret?

We could make a parallel, perhaps, with VP Cheney's secret meetings with the
CEOs of major energy corporations, and the suit brought to force Cheney to
reveal the details of these meetings.  This was fought all the way to the
SCOTUS, and the result was the US Supreme Court did not force the release of
Cheney's energy task force papers:

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/02/22/enron.gao.lawsuit/

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/jun2004/chen-j29.shtml

Yes, your mileage may vary!

Ted Moffett

On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 4:06 PM, Chasuk <chasuk at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 1:51 PM, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > If you are following the posts on Vision2020 regarding the
> > water/sewer/responders deal between the City of Moscow and Hawkins, you
> will
> > find some of the most involved, intelligent and informed citizens in the
> > community do not believe there has been "ample opportunity for
> discussion
> > for everyone who had anything viable to say."  I believe this statement
> in
> > quotes is simply false.
>
> I have been following the discussion with some attention, but not full
> attention.  Still, even paying only half attention, I have witnessed
> the same questions posed repeatedly, and the same answers given each
> time.  If there are new questions that need to be asked (I can't think
> of any), then please, somebody, ask them.  I'm not talking about
> picayune matters that some people seem to delight in dragging out
> because of apparent sadomasochistic tendencies (i.e., the need to
> prolong or provoke strife).
>
> Dan Carscallen provided an answer that suited me; your mileage may
> vary.  It is linked here:
>
> http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2008-February/051809.html
>
> Our representatives did what we pay them to do, after reaching a point
> at which litigation would have been inevitable. They chose mediation
> as a final, hopeful recourse.  Mediation necessarily involves
> compromise.  Maybe they compromised too much, or maybe they
> compromised beyond their remit.  I wasn't there, so I have no informed
> opinion.  Neither do most of those making the loudest noises on
> Vision2020.
>
> Chas
>
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