Marking five years since our move to Kuna

“Why would two people with good jobs, congenial friends, and a home without a mortgage, suddenly abandon all these and at an age when security is the better part of valor, move 2,200 miles and go into business for themselves?”
Such are the words of Charlotte Paul, in the opening pages of her 1955 memoir, “Minding Our Own Business.”
In her book, she memorializes the first five years of owning a weekly newspaper in Snoqualmie Valley, Wash. She and her husband, a newspaperman at a daily metro paper in Chicago, decide to quit their jobs and move across the country with their two small boys, then 4 and 3, to a part of the country where they have no family or friends and set out to run the weekly newspaper.
To say that there are similarities between their story and the story of the McIntoshes moving to Kuna, Idaho, would be a gross understatement.
We, too, had a home “back East” without a mortgage, I was working at the local metro daily paper, we had our friends in Rochester, N.Y., our move was 2,300 miles and we had two small boys, Luke and Robert, then 4 and 1.
Nicola and I both read “Minding Our Own Business” while we were looking for a newspaper to buy. It is fitting for both of us to go back to read that book now, on the fifth anniversary of when Nicola and I packed up our house in Rochester, took an exhausting, day-long flight to Boise and settled into our rented house on a sweltering August day in 2006.
At once, that moment seems like only yesterday and ages ago. Luke was so little, and Robert wasn’t even walking or talking yet. In some ways, the time has flown by. In others, it has been the longest five years of our lives.
What’s nice about revisiting the book, “Minding Our Own Business,” now five years into our own business adventure is to recognize how much harder Charlotte Paul and her husband, Ed Groshall, had it in the newspaper business.
Just like every other newspaper back then, they printed their own paper, which meant they had their own press, which broke down often, and their own press operators, who quit and drank often. They had to pay an engraver any time they wanted to run a photo in the paper. Their weather was much worse, and their experiences with an uninsulated rented house with a coal furnace in a blizzard make our own experience seem like a vacation to Disneyland. Sure, Luke got a double ear infection one year, but he didn’t contract polio like Charlotte and Ed’s sons did back in the day before the polio vaccine. I, myself, have been worn down to near exhaustion, but I haven’t (yet) had a heart attack like Ed did. Then there was the time Ed and Charlotte announced in the paper that they wouldn’t be available for a couple of weeks because they were going to California on vacation — and someone robbed their empty house.
Yes, we’ve had our share of hardship, late nights, frustrations and heartaches, but our journey in a lot of ways has been a cakewalk compared to what Ed and Charlotte went through. And for that I take great comfort.
Comforting, too, to know that the emotions and ups and downs that we’ve experienced these past five years are most certainly not unique to us. Reading “Minding Our Own Business” is sometimes like reading our own story.
“Compliments were many and complaints few, but one word of criticism threw us into a fit of blues that twenty of praise couldn’t pull us out of,” Charlotte Paul writes.
Their 6-year-old asked one time, “Daddy, did we get enough advertising this week?”
Then, toward the end of the book, as she reflects on five years of owning a newspaper: “We’ve learned that success does not come to the man who has no problems; if nothing ever goes wrong, the chances are nothing goes at all, for action brings problems as surely as planting potatoes brings bugs. The man of spirit goes after the bugs, he doesn’t quit planting potatoes.”

Kuna public hearing on the city budget is Tuesday

This is a reminder that the city of Kuna will have its public hearing on the 2011-12 budget during the regular City Council meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at City Hall, 763 W. Avalon St.
The budget proposes to keep property tax revenue flat, except for an additional $28,000 that can be accounted for by new construction and annexations.
The budget also increases the police budget slightly to account for an increase in the cost of benefits to the Ada County Sheriff’s employees who work out of the Kuna substation.

Setting the record straight on Kuna's Teed parking lot

A reader recently posted a comment on our website, www.kunamelba.com, that the new Teed parking lot should be called the “Three Teachers Parking Lot,” because that’s the equivalent number of teachers that it cost the school district to build the parking lot.
While certainly clever, the statement is misguided and belies a certain level of ignorance.
The parking lot was paid for out of the $25.5 million bond approved by voters in 2007. That bond money cannot be used for school operations, only for the improvement projects listed when the voters voted. The one-time money could not be used to pay teacher salaries.
But when the school district did ask the voters for more money for teachers, voters soundly rejected the $1.5 million supplemental levy earlier this year.
Finally, the parking lot will be used for more than just youth football. It will be used by teachers, staff and parents for school events, as well. For example, whenever Teed Elementary has its annual Christmas music program, cars line both sides of Porter Avenue from Kay to Linder. This new parking lot will help, in part, to alleviate some of that.

Today is first day to declare candidacy for Kuna mayor, City Council

Voters in the city of Kuna will have an opportunity to vote for two City Council members and the mayor in this year’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Mayor Scott Dowdy’s term expires this year, as do the terms of City Council members Lisa Bachman and Jeff Lang. The terms for council members Rich Cardoza and Doug Hoiland expire in 2013.
Kuna city residents interested in running for either mayor or City Council member can declare their candidacy beginning Monday, Aug. 29.
The declaration of candidacy period begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, and runs through 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. A candidate has to declare that he/she is a qualified elector and meets the following qualifications:
• Resident of Kuna
• Registered voter
• At least 18 years old
The candidate has to file a Declaration of Candidacy form accompanied by one of the following:
• A petition of candidacy signed by at least five registered qualified electors; or
• Pay a non-refundable filing fee of $40
The Declaration of Candidacy form must be turned in to the Kuna City Clerk’s Office located at Kuna City Hall, 763 W. Avalon St.
If the candidate wishes to submit the declaration of candidacy signed by at least five registered qualified electors, the form must first be taken to the Ada County Elections Office at 400 N. Benjamin Lane to have the signatures verified. The County Clerk will attach a certification indicating the number of signatures that are qualified city electors.
Or, if the candidate wishes to pay the non-refundable filing fee of $40, then the form is submitted directly to the Kuna City Clerk’s Office.

Asbestos abatement in Kuna Senior Center covered in contingency

The discovery of higher-than-acceptable levels of asbestos in the Kuna Senior Center shouldn’t delay construction too far past the original completion date, Engels told council members last week. The estimated $4,896 cost for the asbestos abatement will be covered in the contingency money set aside for the project.
While Engels did not give a firm date for completion of the $72,000 project, which is being covered mostly by a federal grant, Pastor Ray Sparkman of Desert Streams Fellowship Church said he was told that his congregation could expect to move back into the senior center on Sept. 11. Desert Streams uses the senior center for its Sunday services and has been holding its services in the city park while construction continues.

Free concert in Kuna this Sunday

Free Kuna Alcohol & Drug Free Concert will be 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Col. Bernard Fisher Veterans Memorial Park, Kuna. Two Bands: Silence the Reign and Salt the Seas. Food and soft drinks provided!

City of Kuna looking to crack down on bad behavior at city park

The city of Kuna is continuing to work on new ordinances to crack down on people who abuse the city parks. In particular, the city is working on an ordinance that closes the city park at dusk.
Another ordinance would make any violation of a city rule an infraction, punishable by a fine. The city wants to stop BMX bikers from using the skatepark. For one, the city says the bikes damage the concrete structure. Further, the bikers chase off the skateboarders, and they have proven to be disrespectful, leaving trash all over the place and stealing the posted sign that tells bikers they’re not allowed.
The city also plans to post signs informing residents that much of the city park outside a 30-foot area around the Indian Creek Greenbelt is a dog-free zone.

Award-winning pianist will be performing at Kuna United Methodist Church this weekend

Award-winning pianist John Nilsen will perform in concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Kuna United Methodist Church, 260 W. Fourth St. The concert if free, and all are welcome. John’s CD’s will be available for sale following the concert.
Nilsen began studying classical piano from his mother at age 6 and began playing guitar at age 14. Nilsen earned a bachelor of arts degree in English from Southern Oregon College (Southern Oregon University) and was honored by the institution in 1995 with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Nilsen founded the Magic Wing recording label in 1987.
With 240 annual performances including national tours of the United States, Europe and Japan, Nilsen has earned a devout following of listeners. Often accompanied by many of the finest musicians from the Northwest, Nilsen is an innovative performer who creates an intimate repartee with his audience. Nilsen has appeared with such luminaries as Jose Feliciano, Jesse Colin Young, David Foster, Alex De Grassi, Kenny G and many others. His recordings are featured on over 40 musical collections and samplers throughout the globe, including a Rhino Records Sampler.

Kuna still hammering out details of new business license fee

Kuna City Council members are continuing to discuss a new business license process that could increase the business license fee from the current $2.50 to $22.
At last week’s council meeting, Mayor Scott Dowdy questioned the need for an annual renewal fee of $22 if a business has no changes from the previous year. The idea of having a tiered system for renewals, making it either free or greatly reduced for businesses without changes, seemed to gain traction among council members.
Currently, when a business applies for a business license with the city, the fee is $2.50 and the license doesn’t expire. The first problem is that $2.50 doesn’t cover the costs of issuing the fees. The second problem is that the city doesn’t have the ability to generate an accurate list of current businesses. In sending out a letter about the proposal to 450 businesses on the city’s current list, for example, 120 were returned because of wrong address or the business is no longer there.

Kuna passes tentative budget that keeps spending flat

Kuna City Council members Tuesday night unanimously approved a tentative budget that keeps general fund spending relatively flat at $2.749 million, a slight increase from last year’s budgeted $2.744 million.
The budget, which now goes to a public hearing on Sept. 6, keeps current property tax revenue flat, except for a small $28,296 increase in property tax revenue accounted for by new construction and annexations.
The public hearing, at which the public is invited to testify, will be held during the regular City Council meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at City Hall, 763 W. Avalon St.
City Council budgeted $1.476 million in property tax revenue for the 2011-12 fiscal year, compared with $1.448 million last year.
Also included on the revenue side of next year’s budget is $150,000 in fund carryover, which city treasurer John Marsh was a collection of unexpended funds that had built up in the general fund. City Council members decided to put that toward a $191,621 contingency fund.

Kuna Alcohol/Drug Free Youth Coalition will put on a benefit concert Aug. 28

Kuna City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to waive the fees at the city park for a benefit concert being put on by the Kuna Alcohol/Drug Free Youth coalition.
The concert will be from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28. The concert will be to raise awareness and to generate funds, according to coalition director Jessica Galloway.

Public can now comment on 500,000-volt transmission line

A draft environmental impact statement analyzing a proposed electric transmission line between Wyoming and Idaho has been released by the Bureau of Land Management for public review and comment. The public has until Oct. 28 to review and comment on the draft EIS.
This project is jointly proposed by Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power and would result in construction of nearly 1,100 miles of high voltage transmission lines across southern Wyoming and southern Idaho. The project proponents have applied to the BLM and U.S. Forest Service for right of way grants to construct, operate and maintain transmission lines from the proposed Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyo., to the proposed Hemingway substation near Melba.
Construction of Gateway West would add 3,000 megawatts of transmission capacity. The transmission line will serve present and future needs of customers, enhance electric system reliability and transmit electricity generated from new and existing resources, including wind.
The BLM is the lead federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act process for this project, and is working with cooperating agencies including the USFS; National Park Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Bureau of Indian Affairs; states of Idaho and Wyoming, including the Idaho Army National Guard; Cassia, Power, and Twin Falls counties in Idaho; Carbon, Lincoln, and Sweetwater counties in Wyoming; the Saratoga-Encampment-Riverside and Medicine Bow conservation districts in Wyoming; and the City of Kuna.

Head out to the Idaho Piecemakers Quilt Show today at Kuna High

Looking for something to do today in Kuna?
The 12th Annual Idaho PieceMakerS Quilt Show in Kuna is still going on today, Aug. 7, at Kuna High School. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. There is a suggested entry fee of $5. This year the net proceeds of the show will be divided among the following organizations: Boise Chordsmen Youth Outreach Program, Kuna Community Food Bank, Meridian Humane Shelter and Northwest Children’s Home in Nampa.
The theme of the show is Stars & Stripes Over Idaho. Some of these quilts have been designated to be given to returning Idaho soldiers. There will be a special exhibit announcing the theme of the 2012 Quilt Show — Quilted Barns. Another exhibit will feature Farmer’s Wife Quilts, which use 111 different 6 ½” quilt blocks.

Kuna city election candidate filing period opens Aug. 29

Voters in the city of Kuna will have an opportunity to vote for two City Council members and the mayor in this year’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Mayor Scott Dowdy’s term expires this year, as do the terms of City Council members Lisa Bachman and Jeff Lang. The terms for council members Rich Cardoza and Doug Hoiland expire in 2013.
Kuna city residents interested in running for either mayor or City Council member can declare their candidacy beginning Monday, Aug. 29.
The declaration of candidacy period begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, and runs through 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9. A candidate has to declare that he/she is a qualified elector and meets the following qualifications:
• Resident of Kuna
• Registered voter
• At least 18 years old
The candidate has to file a Declaration of Candidacy form accompanied by one of the following:
• A petition of candidacy signed by at least five registered qualified electors; or
• Pay a non-refundable filing fee of $40
The Declaration of Candidacy form must be turned in to the Kuna City Clerk’s Office located at Kuna City Hall, 763 W. Avalon St.
If the candidate wishes to submit the declaration of candidacy signed by at least five registered qualified electors, the form must first be taken to the Ada County Elections Office at 400 N. Benjamin Lane to have the signatures verified. The County Clerk will attach a certification indicating the number of signatures that are qualified city electors.
Or, if the candidate wishes to pay the non-refundable filing fee of $40, then the form is submitted directly to the Kuna City Clerk’s Office.

62 percent of Idaho schools meet state testing standards

Fewer than two-thirds of Idaho schools met the academic bar set by the state this year.
This is the second consecutive year that 62 percent of Idaho schools have met Adequate Yearly Progress, an academic benchmark that states are required to set and report every year under the federal No Child Left Behind law. AYP is calculated based on results of the Idaho Standards Achievement Tests. The ISAT measures reading, mathematics and language usage in grades 3-8, and science in grades 5, 7 and 10. Kuna High School met all standards except for one. A total of 75.5 percent of students classified as economically disadvantaged — a total of 153 10th-graders — were proficient on the math ISAT test. The goal is 83 percent proficiency.
Kuna High scored 90.1 percent proficient in reading among all students.
Reed Elementary missed the 83 percent target for math proficiency among all students, as 81 percent were proficient on the math ISAT test. Hispanics (67.6 percent), students with limited English proficiency (58.7 percent) and economically disadvantaged students (77.1 percent) missed the target.
Crimson Point met all targets, except for math proficiency among economically disadvantaged students (78.1 percent).
Indian Creek Elementary met all targets.
Ross Elementary missed targets for math proficiency for economically disadvantaged students and math and reading proficiency for students with disabilities.
Hubbard missed the target for language usage (73.4 percent).
Teed missed the target for math proficiency for economically disadvantaged students (82.1 percent).
As a district, Kuna missed targets for:
• math proficiency among economically disadvantaged.
• math proficiency among Hispanics.
• math proficiency among limited English proficiency students.
• math proficiency among students with disabilities.
• reading proficiency among students with disabilities.
Overall, however, 91.4 percent of all 2,625 students tested scored proficient in reading, and 85.3 percent of 2,614 students scored proficient at math. Both percentages are above the goals of 85.6 percent for reading and 83 percent for math.

Kuna trying to deal with problems at the city park

Kuna city staff will begin work on a couple of ordinances meant to crack down on criminal behavior in the city parks.
One ordinance would close the city park at dusk, rather than at midnight. Lt. Kody Aldrich said much mischief takes place after dark, particularly at the skate park. Allowing the police to chase off park users would help cut down on such activity as drug use, graffiti and fighting.
Another ordinance would make it infraction, punishable by a fine, to break a city rule, such as being in the city park after dusk or allowing your dog off leash in the city park.
Finally, Aldrich requested that the city consider adding lights to areas of the city park and greenbelt, such as the skate park, and possibly surveillance cameras in an effort to deter crime.
City Parks Supervisor Bobby Withrow said that in addition to more serious crimes, littering is a major daily problem his staff has to deal with.

Kuna City Council president is right to feel slighted

Kuna City Council President Lisa Bachman made no secret that she felt slighted by being left off a list of candidates for Kuna’s Urban Renewal Agency board.
Through a letter presented at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, the absent Mayor Scott Dowdy submitted a list of five names for consideration for the board:
• Gordon Law (for a term of four years). Law is the current Kuna city engineer.
• Kellie Goicoechea (four-year term). Goicoechea is currently on the city’s design review committee on a volunteer basis.
• Stephanie Wierschem (three-year term). Wierschem is currently on the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission on a volunteer basis.
• Jeff Lang (two-year term). Lang is a City Council member.
• Chase Craig (one-year term). Craig is a real estate agent and currently president of the Kuna Chamber of Commerce.
Dowdy had already told me that he was planning on nominating five board members, which I respectfully disagree with. I think the board should have at least seven members and more preferably nine members, as they have on the Eagle Urban Renewal Agency Board.
But, no matter how many members, to leave Bachman off the list is a slight, indeed.
Bachman has served this city well and is well-qualified for the position. She also publicly stated she wanted to be on the board.
She is a professional community and economic developer certified by the Community Development Council with eight years of experience in community development planning. She worked as a planner for the city of Kuna before taking a job with JUB Engineers. She then ran for City Council in 2007, garnering 984 votes, by far the most votes among a field of four candidates at the time. Bachman has distinguished herself on council, becoming council president in 2010.

Message to commissioners: Preserve Hubbard Reservoir

A petition is circulating to let Ada County Commissioners know what residents’ desires are for the area surrounding what’s known as Hubbard Reservoir.
About 600 people have signed the petition so far, according to local resident Sue Evangelho.
“This is just to let the commissioners and Ada County Parks & Recreation know what the public has been talking about for the last five years,” Evangelho said.
In many respects, the message is simple: Don’t mess it up.
That seems like a good message to me.
I know I have written before that Hubbard Reservoir could become an Olmstead-like park in Ada County, complete with picnic areas and landscaping.
But for the time being, it seems reasonable to leave the park in a more pristine state. When I was out there last month, I had a chance to walk along a mowed path to a thickly wooded area along the creek that run through the park.
I snapped a photo of this red-tailed hawk while I was there.
The quiet and natural setting made me think twice about making major improvements to the park.

Kuna High School athletics information meeting is tonight

Kuna High School athletics informational night will be at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 1, in the Kuna High School Commons, 637 E. Deer Flat Road. Learn about KHS athletics, meet the new A.D.’s, meet the coaches and fill out paperwork.