Lots of action going on around town these days…new dog park, all the trees cut down on the land across Ramsey from the Kroc Center, upcoming primary elections and levies…
Any comments, questions, ideas? (read the comments to see why this cartoon is posted again)
Mama Bear asked yesterday if I had heard back from the school district. More than a week ago I requested info on the remodel bids for Lakes Middle School and the detailed cost estimates for a new version of the school. This past Monday, I called Steve Briggs who said he was working on the documentation and would notify me in two days. That should be today, or at most tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.
Comment by mary — March 26, 2008 @ 9:36 am
When I drove up Ramsey last, I noticed those missing trees just opposite the UPS building. That area *is* within the LCDC’s “downtown” district (that huge, 700+ acre thing that you can see from space). I’m not certain whether the trees were cut as part of an LCDC project or whether someone else has purchased the land. It did expose some rather dingy-looking homes.
Oh no! Instant Blight!
Comment by Dan — March 26, 2008 @ 9:38 am
I heard there are plans to build a new WinCo Foods grocery store near Appleway and Ramsey. I’m not sure of the exact site yet.. Not sure if there’s any relation…
Comment by Damn Yankee — March 26, 2008 @ 10:24 am
Well, I know that Dave Patzer from LCDC, owns property on the corner of Appleway and Ramsey.
Comment by mary — March 26, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Mary, isn’t another corner of that intersection owned by the Goodlander family?
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — March 26, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Interesting viewing on Ch. 19 this afternoon, watching the joint meetings of City Council and LCDC. Councilman Edinger asks if LCDC can give some money for sidewalk repair. He admits that finding a way to help pay for it is not a high priority for the city. Then LCDC commissioner Patzer asks why should it be on the LCDC list if it is not a high priority for the city. Councilman Woody says “you guys are the cash cow”. Honestly, “Cash Cow”, twice, he said it. The first time I ever heard that term used was when Dan Gookin used it during his power point presentation 2 years ago.
Comment by Gary Ingram — March 26, 2008 @ 1:11 pm
The real question is who is feeding this cow? The answer is unfortunately: All of the taxpayers in Kootenai County!!!
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — March 26, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Gary,
Is this a live broadcast of the “workshop” today between the LCDC and the City Council? I didn’t see it on the Woody TV schedule.
I think the LCDC needs to change its name to the First Unregulated Bank of Idaho. Its symbol could be a cow with cash going in one end and corrupt public officials coming out the other.
Comment by Bill — March 26, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
In marketing parlance a “cash cow” is a long term, established product that produces a sustained and substantial income stream without any additional needs for advertising, etc…. A product like Twinkies would fit such a definition. Technically the term does not fit the LCDC and surely something more descriptive would do better. Any ideas?
Comment by Wallypog — March 26, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
Before too long the City will have to ask the LCDC for more and more funding. The LCDC will eventually become more powerful than the City Council. I predicted that, too.
Comment by Dan — March 26, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
Wallypog, Jimmy Barona may have hit the nail on the head last week, with his cartoon of LCDC as the Goose that Lays the Golden Eggs. I’ve reposted it above.
Comment by mary — March 26, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
If only that goose produced its treasure while feeding on corn. I think a more accurate depiction might be that of REVERSE ROBIN HOOD, who takes from the poor and delivers to the wealthy.
Comment by Wallypog — March 26, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Don’t worry the problem will take care of itself. Robbing from the poor can only go on for so long; then you start robbing from the middle class. The next step will be to rob from the upper class to pay the rich. Finally when all of the local money has been drained by the wealthy out of towners they will move on to their next target. With all of the willing particpants in the depletion of local wealth as drawn so aptly by Jimmy B. it won’t take long.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — March 26, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
[QUOTE] Mary, isn’t another corner of that intersection owned by the Goodlander family? [/QUOTE]
My understanding is that the southeast parcel (home of Divers West, Terry Lee Art Studio, and ‘Thriftique’), and the northwest parcel (abutting the UPS and Fire buildings) are owned by Deanna Goodlander. The southwest parcel (site of Goodie’s Texaco and Taco Bell) …. not so sure. I do know the Goodie’s Texaco is owned and operated by Deanna’s eldest son, however.
Comment by critter — March 27, 2008 @ 5:58 am
whoops – edit: Diver’s West is on the northeast corner, not the southeast. Sorry my bad.
-c
Comment by critter — March 27, 2008 @ 6:00 am
Thanks for the answer Critter. If I may could I ask someone to verify something I heard today? Do the property owners of Coeur d’Alene own their sidewalks and the city owns the dirt under them? If that is true; couldn’t the property owners simply remove the sidewalks while reserving access to the dirt for the city? Who could we ask? Perhaps Ron Edinger since he has been around city government the longest and seems to have made this a recent priority for the city and attempted to make it a priority for LCDC. Another person might be Mike Gridley if he is not too busy defending one of the many pieces of litigation involving Coeur d’Alene, drafting another nebulous ordinance that no one can understand or interpret or riding his bike on the bike trail that we all helped fund. If we get all of these bothersome sidewalks out of Coeur d’Alene then the city will have to figure out another way to put a lien on our property.
Comment by doubleseetripleeye — March 27, 2008 @ 12:47 pm
Sorry could not help myself – but I laughed to myself when I thought that maybe, one should ask Spencer, who is known for his expertise on dirt. 🙂
Comment by Stebbijo — March 27, 2008 @ 3:35 pm