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government</title></head><body>
<div>Jeff,</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Unless budget/financial sheet software has changed significantly
since my tenure at the courthouse, it would not be available in a
digital format that could be accessed by other users. At that time
(pre-PC, mainframe only) it was proprietary software, not off the
shelf. Given the inertia of local government, it is more likely to
have been tweaked rather than replaced over the years but I could
certainly be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Not sure if you're referring to the annual audit when discussing
the CAFR, but if so, back then it was prepared and delivered by the
outside auditor in hard copy which would require copying and
subsequent fee. I don't see any reason these days that report couldn't
be formatted to pdf as a part of the audit contract.</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>I've gone down with this ship before, but I'll say it again: to
address the valid issues that you raise requires both clear direction
from county commissioners who can devote enough time to the work of
the office to achieve the consensus necessary (full-time in my
opinion), trained staff and the monetary resource to devote the time
needed. Space at the courthouse to breathe would help, too. Kootenai
County, with its explosive growth rate, much greater population and
subsequent increase in property tax base is not the county I would
choose for comparison. How is Nez Perce County handling these
information issues?</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Mark Solomon</div>
<div><br></div>
<div>At 10:21 AM -0800 1/29/05, Jeff Harkins wrote:</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite>Thanks Bill and Mark for this thread.<br>
<br>
One of my principle concerns about our local government has been their
reluctance to utilize their websites to improve their community
communication relations.<br>
<br>
Last year, I wanted the financial statements for Latah County (not the
summaries, but the full General Purpose Financial Statements) - this
year I would like to see the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report). No copies were available, but at a cost of $15 each, I
could acquire the statements. At best, that represents a
difficulty for citizens wanting to explore the fiscal status of the
County in depth. In the worst case, it precludes lower income
folks from having reasonable access.<br>
<br>
On another point, none of the current operational documents are
online. As most are aware, there are numerous issues pertaining
to the Comprehensive Long Range Plan and proposed ordinances to that
plan. At a minimum, the current Long Range Plan should be online
- as well as all the current ordinances. None are available at
this time.<br>
<br>
I direct your attention to the website for Kootenai County at this
link:<br>
<br>
http://www.co.kootenai.id.us/<br>
<br>
Not exactly rocket science to have a fully supportive website - please
note the current financial statements are given high visibility and
Comprehensive Plan, ordinances and proposed ordinances are all
available.<br>
<br>
We are fortunate to have a good population of talented website
designers in our area and the costs of providing a good website are
low. So why isn't it there ?<br>
<br>
At 09:46 AM 1/29/2005, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">M-<br>
regarding your suggestion that City of Moscow post all agendas and
notices to V2020....<br>
not only is this common sense, but also a suggestion that has gone to
both city and county governments for years...with some results (note
that the county commissioners and city council meeting agendas are
posted to V2020).<br>
could the city/county post more? sure.<br>
maybe many V2020 subscribers could ask them to do so.<br>
Contact Gary Riedner at city hall....<br>
BL</font><br>
<blockquote><br>
----- Original Message -----<br>
<br>
From: <a href="mailto:FCS@moscow.com">Mark Seman</a><br>
<br>
To: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020</a><br>
<br>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 4:45 PM<br>
<br>
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Moscow Animal Ordinances<br>
<br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080">Kit & V2020,<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080"> <br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080">This is the first time
Ive heard about this revision effort. I put in a fair amount of
effort to stay informed of whats going on around town, but
routinely visiting the citys web-site is not my habit. Ive
suggested that ALL city notices, agendas, etc. be posted on V2020 as a
way to distribute information (especially I input is being solicited),
rather than forcing the public to search it out. From my
perspective, the technology is here and it is not a significant effort
to send a web page to the community listserve (or others if there is
more than one.) It may end up being like spam, but its useful
to the community. By the way, I appreciate the info postings the
sheriffs office has been sending out. Is this idea whack or
common sense?</font></blockquote>
<blockquote><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080"> <br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080">Mark<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">* * * * * * * * *
* *<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">Mark Seman,
Architect<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">Heather Seman,
Landscape Architect<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">Full Circle
Studios<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">1404 East 'F'
Street<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">Moscow, Idaho
83843<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">v 208-883-3276<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">f 208-883-0112<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="-1" color="#000080">FCS@Moscow.com<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080"> <br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="-1" color="#000080"> <br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font size="-1">-----Original Message-----<br>
<br>
From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [
mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com]On Behalf Of Kit Craine<br>
<br>
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 2:09 PM<br>
<br>
To: Saundra Lund<br>
<br>
Cc: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<br>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow Animal Ordinances<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman"> <br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Times New Roman">Saundra,<br>
<br>
<br>
These are the result of a request I made to council during an open mic
period back in September, after my Old Dog and I were attacked one to
many times on public sidewalks by dogs that were legally loose in
their front yards at the time they decided to get us.<br>
<br>
<br>
My concern was requiring that dogs be confined, tethered, or leashed
at all time so pedestrians (and old dogs) can walk anywhere in town
without having to worry about collecting fang-holes. Randy Fife went a
step farther and recommended a complete revision of the animal control
ordinance. That was a good idea because the existing code is a bit out
of date. For example, it is more concerned with grazing animals being
herded down alleys than whether dogs are being fed and watered.<br>
<br>
<br>
The versions that are online are meant to generate discussion. At the
last Administrative Committee meeting, the discussion focused on
having a subcommittee that could throughly discuss and evaluate
various topics. Hopefully, it would have people from a variety of
viewpoints so any revisions can carry Moscow forward for many years to
come.<br>
<br>
<br>
Kit Craine<br>
</font><br>
<font color="#000080"> </font><br>
<font color="#000080"></font></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<hr></blockquote>
<blockquote><br>
_____________________________________________________<br>
<br>
List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>
<br>
serving the communities of the Palouse since
1994. <br>
<br>
<span
></span>
http://www.fsr.net <span
></span
> <span
></span> <br>
<br>
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<br>
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////<br>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite>_____________________________________________________<br>
List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>
serving the communities of the Palouse since
1994. <br>
<span
></span>
http://www.fsr.net <span
></span
> <span
></span> <br>
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>
ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ<span
></span
>ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ</blockquote>
</blockquote>
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