<div><a href="mailto:chasuk@gmail.com">chasuk@gmail.com</a> wrote:</div>
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<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">You ask whether I think there should have been "more open<br>public discussion" first, and my truthful response is no, I don't.<br>
First, because I believe that there had already been ample opportunity<br>for discussion for everyone who had anything viable to say. Every<br>nuance of opinion had already been expressed ad nauseum.</blockquote>
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<div>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.</div>
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<div>Consider the following Vision2020 input on this subject of public transparency for the public's business conducted by those elected to public office:</div>
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<div><span style="COLOR: #1f497d"><a href="mailto:sslund_2007@verizon.net">sslund_2007@verizon.net</a> wrote:</span></div>
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<div><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Visionaries:</span></div>
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<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">As I continue to try to understand the Council's decision, I've come across something else that puzzles me, and I'm hoping someone here can help me to understand.</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">My understanding is that the City of Moscow had appealed the transfer to Hawkins of three water rights, and the mediation was an attempt to resolve <b>that issue</b>. Apparently, the City agreed to confidentiality in negotiations as part of that deal.</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">However, why was the sewer (in more ways than one!) part of agreement secretly negotiated and what's the legal authority behind removing that part of public business from public scrutiny and public input?</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">To quote Idaho Attorney General Lance Wasden:</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">"Open and honest government is fundamental to a free society. The Idaho Legislature formalized our state's commitment to open government by enacting the Idaho Open Meeting Law in 1974. The Open Meeting Law codifies a simple, but fundamental, Idaho value: The public's business ought to be done in public."</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Inquiring minds want to understand!</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d"><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">TIA,</span></span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Saundra Lund</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">Moscow, ID</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.</span></p>
<p><span style="COLOR: #1f497d">~ Edmund Burke</span></p></div>
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<div>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett</div>
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