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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12DECEMBER 2001 GEZ�,a City of Chubbuck NEWS P.O. Box 5604 5160 Yellowstone Ave., Chubbuck, ID 83202-0006 phone (208) 237-2400 Website http://Www.ci•chubbuck.id.usl We have all read of the "advantages" of be- ing consolidated into one city. May I comment that the person who prepared this study should have at least had the dignity to have consulted with someone in Chubbuck before making all the assumptions that he has. 3. POLICE PROTECTION. We have more police on the street per capita thanoca t will Chubbuck has the DARE program and begin in the spring semester as it always has. Our crime solving rate is one of the best in the state and equal to Pocatello's. Chubbuck has lost our block grant for solving crime for the past three years because we have re- CHUBBUCK DOES NOT RIDE ON duced crime to the point in our city that we THE COATTAILS OF POCATELLO. no longer qualify for the grant. We have cre- We pay our way. We pay the extra fee that ated one of the best Citizens on Patrol Pro - Pocatello charges out of City residents for grams (COPS), Police Safety Aide Programs their recreational facilities. Blackfoot, Idaho and Explorer programs in the State. Police Falls, American Falls, Aberdeen, Twin Falls, Departments from as far away as Polk and Boise do not charge an extra fee for the County, Florida have requested information use of their recreational facilities, only on these programs and requested copies of Pocatello. Pocatello has this reputation Chubbuck's grants in setting up similar pro - across the State. When people from grams. We do not equal Pocatello in pay but Pocatello come to Chubbuck to use their our officers do not consider pay as the most parks, they are charged the same minimal important reason to be in the department. amount as the Citizens of Chubbuck. Of the Several have refused to leave Chubbuck 75 reservations made for the Chubbuck because of the good work environment and last summer 43 were from Pocatello. the great community they get to Parks work in. The kids that come from Pocatello to play Little League Baseball in Chubbuck are not charged anything extra. 4. 2. FIRE PROTECTION. Chubbuck fire pro- tection is not second to any fire department. We are a full time -volunteer combination de- partment. Our fire rating is virtually the same as that enjoyed by the residents of Pocatello. Some phones call to Insurance Designers, an agency that represents more than 30 dif- ferent insurance companies revealed that there is no difference in the insurance rates for Pocatello and Chubbuck. The Chubbuck Fire Department is one of, if not the best trained and equipped combination depart- ments in the State of Idaho. We train to Na- tional Fire Protection Agencies 1001 re- quirements for professional firefighters. We are trained in hazardous materials and emer- gency medical incidents. Chubbuck equip- ment is first class in every aspect of protec- tion for our citizens. The hazardous materi- als unit that Pocatello has is a regional unit and covers an area from Twin Falls on the west to Montpelier on the east and to the Montana line on the north. It is funded as a regional unit. UTILITY RATES. When comparing wa- ter rates, Mr. Frank used inaccurate figures and misleading information to exaggerate the difference between Pocatello's rates and the rates in Chubbuck. Mr. Frank cites $1.00 per thousand gallons as the Pocatello rate. In reality the rate is $1.24 per thousand. Mr. Frank calculated the rate difference on an average usage of 30,000 gallons per month when in reality, at least in the City of Chubbuck, the average monthly usage (av- eraged over the entire year) is 15,000 per month. Pocatello's average is probably the same as Chubbuck's. Our utility mainte- nance employees also receive considerable training for their jobs. Nearly all have been certified by the Idaho Board of Water and Wastewater Operators for the work they do. It appears that Mr. Frank has used incorrect or inaccurate information purposely to ex- aggerate the difference between the two cit- ies water rates. 5. LIBRARIES. Mr. Frank characterizes the Portneuf District Library as a Library Dis- trict within the City of Chubbuck, created by the City of Chubbuck to provide library are in Idaho Falls. All of this could have been services at an increased rate. In actuality the in Pocatello if it had not been for the short Portneuf Library Taxing District includes all sightedness of Pocatello city officials at the of School District 25 taxing area in North time. Bannock County, with the exception of Pocatello. It just so happens that the library How often do you read of Idaho Falls want - building itself is in Chubbuck and it is a posi- tive addition to our City. ing to annex Garden City which is surrounded by the City of Boise, or even annexing Merid- 6. ONE LARGER CITY WOULD PROVIDE ian. We never hear a word about this. It only A MORE ATTRACTIVE LOCATION happens in Pocatello and only a street separates these communities from one another. Becom- FOR BUSINESS AND You noticed how many cNtieDs and towns are ing the second largest city for the future is a dream for Pocatello. Meridian, Nampa and even in the Salt Lake Valley and so how man artments fire Caldwell will one day be larger than Pocatello city governments, police de or Idaho Falls. Relax folks, our two cities and departments there are in thatP rtm valley? Have their departments work well together. Only all of these cities inhibited the growth in the when a freshman City Councilman has a big Salt Lake Valley? How about the San Fran- cisco Bay area? I cannot count the number idea does the consolidation issue come up. of cities between San Francisco and San For your information the vote of consolida- Jose. Has the growth of that area been in- tion of Alameda was 50.1% to 49.9%. There hibited by having so many separate cities? has never been a city councilman elected from The fact is that smaller communities have old Alameda with the exception of the first elec- many advantages. We are close knit. We re- tion when George Hansen was elected. Great ceive better response to the needs of the citi- Prospect for representation for Chubbuck in a zens. The individuals who zone or pass or- consolidation isn't it. dinances in Chubbuck live in Chubbuck. We do not go home to South Fairway or wher- ANOTHER ISSUE. On occasion the Mayor ever, outside our area. We live and abide by or City in general receives a letter unsigned the same laws and regulations as the citizenry from an anonymous writer that complaints of our community. about decisions that the City officials have mae. These lettersI do not want to convey the idea that Pocatello otsign d. If that persg n does intonot have t ele 13 ife oare ur- is not a fine city. It is. Their various depart- age to come in and discuss their concerns with ments do excellent service to their city. How- us, we here at the City can do nothing to cor- ever they provide no better service than do the rect the supposed wrongs. This surfaced dur- _ departments in the City of Chubbuck. ing the previous election and unfortunately Chubbuck has made Pocatello a better city, I someone is still spreading false information. If will not go into that, but could do so. The atti- you, as a Citizen of Chubbuck, receive this type tude through the past years is that Idaho Falls of information, please come in to the City and and Boise have been more progressive than learn the facts. We do not claim to be perfect. Pocatello. The reason is that in the past the Unfortunately we have made mistakes. Does Pocatello leaders have made decisions that this Mayor take credit for all the progress of negatively affected local business and indus- our City? I do not. I have always included the try. The railroad was not properly accommo- City Council, Staff, Employees and the Citi - dated and stated that they would have to pro- zens as being responsible for the progress that vide their needs in Ogden, Utah and they have our city has made. done so. The INEEL was pushed to Idaho Falls. The AEC at the time did not know that Idaho The consolidation study was done by a per - Falls existed, Pocatello was the location, but son who was convinced that consolidation is Pocatello's leaders had the philosophy of how the only way to go. He did not tell the truth in much can the government do for us and Idaho all areas of concern. A study can be made to Falls approached the AEC with the ro osition show anything that the writer desires and this of how much can we do for you. Al1INEEL is what we have received in this present study. offices should have been in Pocatello because Our goal in the City of Chubbuck is to present Pocatello is the hub of the northwest. All traf- the facts and be honest in our statements. If we fic, rail and truck, at the time came through have made a wrong statement please come in Pocatello and it still does. Pocatello had the be- and correct us. ter airport facility at the time. The regional air- Thank you and let's make 2002 the best ever. Port is now located in Idaho Falls and all the Mayor John O. Cotant ancillary businesses that relates to the INEEL