Lots of stuff has been happening at the county lately. To start with, all 3 commissioners voted unanimously to elect Dr. Ryan Cole to the Central District Health. The globalist liberal Boise City media worked tirelessly to discredit the good doctor even though his credentials are very impressive. The Statesman and other liberal rags pounded the idea that anyone supporting Doctor Cole was nothing more than a right wing nutjob. The idea that liberals somehow own science and anyone who disagrees with them is simply an uneducated rube is absurd but not surprising. All that to say that Dr. Cole is “one of ours” and will be our voice in the Central District Health.
Roads are the single most contentious subject in our county. Perhaps the most complaints come from folks who drive Centerville Rd. on a daily basis. It seems no matter how often the road is graded it gets torn up immediately by local traffic and more recently side by sides from “townies”. So, what is the fix? It’s my understanding that the road is the most well traveled dirt road in the county. It’s my contention that the entire road from Idaho City to Placerville needs to be paved. Perhaps that will discourage ATV’s from driving like fools on the road and thereby endangering everyone else who drives the road. I hesitate to say it out loud but it’s my goal to get the entire road paved within the next two years and have the majority of it paid for through federal and state grants. Hold me to it.
Emergency services in a poor county is a struggle. There never seems to be a police officer near by and an ambulance is 45 minutes away when you need them. This is a part of mountain living and we all know it. This doesn’t mean we should just roll over and give up. On the contrary, we should solve the problem if at all possible. The solution, whether we like it or not is to put forth a county wide ambulance service. In which case the East Boise County Ambulance District (EBCAD) would be dissolved and absorbed by the newly formed Boise County Ambulance District. (BCAD). This would require and county wide vote to be approved. My understanding is that it’s too late to put it on the 2022 ballet and must happen during an election year. Because of this, the whole idea will have to be put off until 2024. In the mean time, I will be exploring this as a possible solution and having meetings with all the county players to get their perspectives.
The 2022 budget was passed last week with some significant changes. In particular, the Sheriff’s office will be hiring 1 full time officer. According to Sheriff Turner, this will be the first officer outside of a student resource officer hired since he was hired 20 some years ago. His office will also receive 1 more dispatch and a detective. Turner said if he could only have 1 added employee it would be the detective. His reason is that our offices simply don’t have the time or training to perform proper investigations. A detective will free up time for other officers to do what they are hired to do.
I’m always at my business in Idaho City, The Gold Mine Grill & Saloon. I’m happy to listen to your concerns if you are so inclined to stop by.
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