In a recent social media post, Pocatello For Accountable Government Entities advised citizens that Mayor Blad will be presenting his proposed FY 2023 budget to the City Council at 9:00 tomorrow morning, July 7. P.AG.E.’s post reads:
SAVE THE DATE!
The City of Pocatello’s next BUDGET meeting has been rescheduled for THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. for the Mayor’s presentation of the FY23 budget.
The Mayor and Council NEED TO SEE that taxpayers care about the budget. An empty council chamber translates as public approval.
Do you approve of a potential 7% increase in the City’s levied tax ask?
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MEETING TO ATTEND. No public comment is permitted during this budget/work session meeting. However, this meeting will provide a “big picture” view of the proposed budget. IF you want to begin to understand where your tax dollars go . . .
A book highlighting the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Building (Memorial Building), built in the 1920’s and dedicated to the Veterans of Bannock County, is in the works and set to be published later this year. Written by Miguel Dominic, Historian for the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Association, the book details the history of the building all the way to the present. The working title of the book is, “Lest We Forget” – In Honor of all our Veterans. Dominic’s son, Miguel Dominic Jr., a local photographer and a veteran himself, is contributing photos to the effort.
The idea for the book came about, according to Dominic, because, looking through other histories of Pocatello, not much was said about the Memorial Building. “My first idea was to create a pamphlet that I could make available in the museum,” he said. “But, as I began adding more content, it became clear that a book was warranted.”
As local veterans have heard about the book, they’ve begun contributing photographs to the effort. Many in the local Veterans community are featured in the work, with photos of their time in service and at the building.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Bannock County Veterans Memorial Association’s Historian Account to help add to and maintain the museum housed in the building.
(Pocatello Police Department Advisory, July 5, 2022)
As Idahoans hit the road this summer, the Pocatello Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Idaho to keep roads free from impaired driving. Beginning Friday through July 9, officers will dedicate patrols to looking for drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
This is part of a statewide effort involving officers from more than 50 law enforcement agencies. The primary goal of the law enforcement presence will be to prevent the tragedies previously seen around the July 4th holiday.
“Impaired driving is one of the most dangerous and deadly behaviors we see on our roads,” said Chief Roger Schei. “We want people to enjoy the Fourth and we are going to do everything we can to help people get home safely.”
According to data from the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety, nearly 40 percent of all fatal crashes in Idaho involve some sort of driver impairment. Between 2017 and 2021, 453 people were killed in impaired driving crashes in Idaho – including 104* people who were killed in 2021.
“Impaired driving is a problem that affects all of us. It’s going to take all of us working together to stop impaired driving,” Chief Roger Schei said.
While additional officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers, we can all do our part to keep Idaho’s roads safe. Celebrate with a plan and remember these safe alternatives:
Plan ahead. Before you drink, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
Speak up. Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
Call the Police. If you see a suspected impaired driver use your cell phone in hands-free mode to call 208-234-6100, 911, or *ISP (that’s STAR, I-S-P for Idaho State Police) or 1-800-233-1212.
July 5, 2022 (Photo credit: Donald J. Trump on Truth Social)
45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump has released the following statement regarding the potential removal of tariffs on China:
Believe it or not, it is looking more and more like the United States is getting ready to remove the Tariffs on China. This would be a terrible mistake. These Tariffs have brought many Billions of Dollars to our Country, and made affected businesses, such as steel, viable again in the United States. Doing this would be the greatest gift that China could ever receive. Our Farmers alone got $28 billion as a gift from me, that came directly out of the Tariffs because of the way they were abused by China. Taking these Tariffs off would be a clear signal that the United States is weak, ineffective, and doing BUSINESS AS USUAL. Certain Senators are fighting hard to get this done, even saying such ridiculous things as it “causes inflation.” Those Senators should be questioned as to their real motives!
It’s a big task to maintain 466 miles of road. But the Bannock County Road and Bridge team, a Bannock County Public Works division, is up to the challenge.
The hot, long summer days are packed with a ritual of upkeep that helps extend the lifespan of vital infrastructure. The roads Bannock County are responsible for lie outside of city limits, connecting our most rural residents to the rest of the community. Of the more than 460 miles the Road and Bridge team is responsible for, only 300 miles are paved.
Much needs to be done to maintain these rural roads: chip sealing, applying road paint, shouldering, mowing, sweeping, tree trimming, and more.
On Monday, June 20, crews began chip sealing roads all around Bannock County. Chip sealing is the process of applying a pavement surface treatment that combines one or more layers of asphalt with one or more layers of fine aggregate and is typically used on rural roads with lower traffic volume.
Crews began chip sealing roads in the southern part of the County and are working their way up to the northern part of the county. After chip sealing is complete, the crews will apply fog oil over the newly sealed roads, which will seal narrow cracks, restore flexibility to the pavement surface, and help preserve the underlying pavement structure.
During this time of work, the Bannock County Road & Bridge Department asks that the public beware of temporary road delays while crews are out working. The public is also encouraged to use alternate routes if possible. Paying attention to warning signs, lights, and flagger instructions can help road crews complete work in a safe and timely manner.
To see the summer maintenance schedule, visit bannockcounty.us/road-bridge or follow Bannock County on Facebook. The schedule for all Road & Bridge projects is subject to change and could be rescheduled at any time. Schedules may also change due to inclement weather.
For questions or concerns, please call the Road and Bridge office at 208-233-9591 between Monday-Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email roads@bannockcounty.us.
The video for the Bannock County Board of Equalization Hearings that took place on June 28, 2022, has been posted on the County’s YouTube page. You can view the hearings by clicking on the image, below:
In a recent podcast, Idaho Speaks interviewed Scott Cleveland, Candidate for U.S. Senate from Idaho. The program notes read:
On this episode we discuss foreign policy, military readiness, inflation, energy policy, COVID policy, immigration, trade policy, education, and other issues in the news. Scott also offers a contrast between himself and his opponent.
Idaho Speaks is a listener supported production dedicated to giving voice to Idaho Republicans. To learn more about how to support the show, please visit idahospeaks.com/support/.
Sponsors:
Baby Boomers Radio – A monthly audio magazine devoted to helping seniors and boomers navigate their golden years. Visit babyboomersradio.com to learn more.
Zenith Exhibits, Inc. – Helping Small Business attract new customers and grow their business. Website and digital marketing solutions for the smallest budgets. Visit ZenithExhibits.com to learn more.
The Home School Legal Defense Association is currently accepting entries for its annual photo contest. The contest is open to all homeschooled students ages 7-19. The entry fee is $10 per entry for members of HSLDA, and $15 per entry for non-members. Proceeds benefit HSLDA Compassion, which provides grants to assist homeschooling families who are facing financial difficulties.
This years’ contest themes are:
Ages 7-10: Hidden
Ages 11-14: In Your Face!
Ages 15-19: Nostalgic
For more information or to enter the contest, click here!
The realty world can be confusing for buyers and sellers alike. Magazines, websites, and conventional wisdom offer conflicting views on how to maximize your home’s value and your buying power. Chris and Margaret Schnitzler, of HomeSmart Premier Realty, are shedding light on the subject by sharing Realty Tips on their Facebook page.
Chris and Margaret offer help to those looking for the perfect property: “If you’re in the market for a new home or just want to watch what the market is doing, we can set up an email instant alert for available properties, with criteria as specific or general as you’d like! It’s easy to change any part of your criteria or turn it off at any time.”
This week’s suggestion for sellers is, “If you know it’s broken, just fix it, don’t wait for the inspection to call it out. Buyers notice when the little things have been taken care of, and that can make them more comfortable with their purchase.”
To contact the Schnitzlers about your realty needs, call 208-852-6112.
(Bannock County Commissioners Office, July 1, 2022)
The Bannock County Board of Commissioners has posted their meeting schedule for the week of July 4.
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
9:00 AM: Board of Commissioners Business Meeting
11:00 AM: Bid Openings (action item)
Wellness Complex Gravity Sewer System
Safe Teen Assessment Center Architectural Services
1:00 PM: Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative Meetings throughout the day as possible (action item)
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
8:30 AM: ALL – BOCC Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative items as time allows (action item)
1:00 PM: ALL – BOCC Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative items as time allows (action item)
Thursday, July 7, 2022
9:00 AM: Meeting to approve claims with Executive Session under Idaho Code §74-206 (1)(a)&(b) regarding personnel with potential action following adjournment of Executive Session (action item)
9:30 AM: Work Session (potential action item)
1:00 PM: Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative items as time allows (action item)
Friday, July 8, 2022
8:30 AM Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative items as time allows (action item)
1:00 PM Board of Equalization Appeal Hearings and Administrative items as time allows (action item)
The full meeting agendas can be seen on the Bannock County Website, here.
More about BOCC Meetings
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is comprised of the three elected County Commissioners: Ernie Moser (District 1, Chair), Jeff Hough (District 2), and Terrel Tovey (District 3).
The BOCC generally meets twice a week: regular business meetings are on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and work sessions are on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are generally held in the Commissioner’s Chambers at 624 E Center, Room 212, Pocatello, Idaho, unless otherwise noted. Times subject to change within 15 minutes of stated time.
During these meetings, the BOCC may: approve contracts, expend funds, hear testimony, make decisions on land use cases and take care of other County matters, and are open to the public.
