[Vision2020] Say What? (local)

[Tom Hansen]

This is merely the first (a "taste" if you will) of many, provided to
entertain and inform you fine people of those candidates running for
election and re-election.  Although these sound-bites may not be presented
with regularity, you can rest assured my archive of city council sessions
(as well as other activities) will keep you sufficiently entertained and
informed.

Having said thet . . .

On March 4, 2008, the Moscow Civic Association sponsored a public forum to
discuss the recent Hawkins Companies/Water Rights Agreement.

The forum included a panel discussion followed by questions from the
audience. The panelists included: Wayne Krauss, Moscow City Council
member; Tom Lamar, Moscow City Council member; Dennis Baird, Wine Company
of Moscow owner; and Gerard Connelly, Tri-State owner.

As the forum was nearing its end . . .

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Question:  Why wasn't it [mediation with Hawkins Companies rescheduled if
only one person could attend?

Councilman Wayne Krauss:  I don't know.  Well, the dates were set.  It was
next week.  Right?  I'll have to ask Nancy then.  Is that something . . .
could we have decided we needed three or four council people and we could
have rescheduled it?

Mayor Nancy Chaney:  We could have tried.  We could have asked.

Councilman Krauss:  We could have done that?

Mayor Chaney:  The city could have said "No mediation".  We had all kinds
of options.

Councilman Krauss:  But, could we have had . . . Did we have an
opportunity to change the dates and move it to later on down the road.

Mayor Chaney:  Well, the judge established that date.

Councilman Krauss:  The judge set it.  I don't know.  I don't have a good
answer for that.  My impression was . . . Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday
and Wednesday whenever it was.  Those were the dates.  That's when we're
going.  The judge is going to be there.  Everybody is flying in.  You
know, I guess when there is a court appearance . . . We can't call this a
court appearance.  But, to me it was a legal proceeding and when they say
you've got to be there, you've got to be there.

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See for yourself at . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agfNUYol9IU

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Is this the level of preparedness we want on our city council?

Why wasn't the city attorney's guidance sought prior to the mediation?

Wouldn't it be nice if the city of Moscow had an attorney whose job
description extended beyond defending city council members against public
records requests?

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)