The City’s Pulse Newsletter

By Mary Souza, May 15, 2008

The Educational Corridor forum last Tuesday night was surprising on many levels. The turnout was great and the walls had to be opened up for more room. Over 80 people reserved tickets for the dinner event but when additional folks called the day of, rules were broken to add chairs on the sides of the room so they could come after dinner and participate in the program. It was awkward, though, when the extra folks came too early and had to sit while others ate dinner…maybe not the best choice but it was done with good intentions. Then Wednesday’s Press quoted Rep. George Sayler, one of the extras, as he slammed organizers for charging an admission price. Sorry, George, someone has to pay for the meeting room, dinner, and mailing notices. Regular citizens can’t use taxpayer money like government officials can. (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter

By Mary Souza, May 8, 2008

$10 million dollars is what NIC expects to pay for the Stimson/DeArmon mill site. This price equates to $588,200 per acre, making this old mill site next to the sewage treatment plant among the most expensive properties ever in the State of Idaho. Yet Kootenai County assessed the land in 2007 at only $2.4 million and NIC has not obtained a real estate appraisal on the property. And why does NIC Trustee Mic Armon call it “The Next Tubb’s Hill”? (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter

By Mary Souza, April 10, 2008

It could cost $100 million or more for a decision made by a handful of people in a back room. And apparently they don’t have to make it public, even though the taxpayers will be footing the bill.

North Idaho College is negotiating right now to find the first $10 million dollars in order to buy the Stimson Mill (light teal on the map) from developer Marshall Chesrown. It’s a 17 acre property, so that equates to…get ready…$588,200 per acre. That’s about 4 times more costly than other land in the area. Plus, the mill site is right next to the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (in yellow on the map), with only partial river frontage.

On the other hand, the City of CdA has been allowing the University of Idaho to lease the Harbor Center (the old Osprey Restaurant building–in red on the map) for $10, yes ten dollars, per year since 2002. The city is offering to let U of I purchase the building and surrounding land for a total of $1.3 million. That’s quite a deal by comparison.

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