Questions for NIC’s Education Corridor Forum, May 22, 2008 (UPDATED)

Here are the 12 questions I emailed to NIC before the meeting, as instructed. Now you can see how many were not asked and some that were partially answered:

1. There has been information circulating about the possible use of either the Outlet Mall near the Riverbend Research Park or the land you have optioned out on the Prairie, as possible sites for the Ed. Corridor. Are you open to consideration of other locations for the Education Corridor? If not, why? NEVER ASKED

2. The cost of the Stimson/DeArmon Mill site land purchase at $588,200 per acre makes the property one of the most expensive in the whole State. More than half of the land is back away from the riverfront and right near the Sewage Treatment Plant. Do you think paying this price is responsible to the taxpayers and the students who will see their tuition go up? NEVER ASKED

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And so it starts. The levy failed yesterday and now some news outlets and public comment sites are reacting with questions and some frustration. The Spokesman Review ran an article today, stating “This year, a group of self-styled watchdogs, led by political activists Mary Souza and Dan Gookin, rallied voters through mailings and Web postings to reject the levy, pointing to the 2002 levy as evidence the district can’t be trusted with taxpayer money.” That part is true, except the mailings, but there’s much more to the story. (more…)

Over on the CDA Press blogs, there was a lot of noise regarding the LCDC and the SD271 levy. Quite a few times people wrote, “No levy until the LCDC is out of the picture.”

It’s true that the LCDC and School District are working together to remediate Sorensen elementary. (And stay tuned to OpenCdA for information on that topic as it comes available.) But my question to you: Did the LCDC’s involvement with the School District poison the levy?

County Commissioner candidate Tom Cronin has raised over $30,000 (here and here) in his bid to unseat incumbent Rick Curry. You’d recognize many of the names on the donations list. What motivates them? A desire to really change the county? Or is the humongous fund raising due to an intense dislike of Mr. Curry?

Zone 4
Diane Zipperer 443
Susan Francis 384

Zone 5
Sid Fredrickson 423
Kevin Mylan 343

The CdA School levy failed to pass the voter’s approval test yesterday. The school district was asking for $31.1 million dollars and needed 55% approval to get it passed, but only 47% of the voters agreed. (Info from krem.com)

Here’s the update on the School Board Trustee elections.  It was very close.  Thanks to those who ran.  I think the message was still strong.

I pulled this question from another thread. “Reddy” asked:

To Susie Snedaker – [At a recent City Council meeting] you asked (for the second time that I know of) about multiple tenants in residential housing and if there was proper zoning for it. The mayor promised you that she would have the attorney look at it and have him/her get back to you. You asked if it would happen within a few days and she replied yes. My question: Has anyone gotten back to you with an answer? Just curious; wondering if the promise was lived up to. Thanks very much.

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You need to vote Tuesday (tomorrow) on the School District 271 levy and trustee election. If you haven’t yet turned in an absentee ballot, then it’s imperative that you not miss tomorrow’s election.
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