Work to resurface two road sections in Kuna is expected to get under way the week of July 11 and is scheduled for completion in mid-August. The following road sections will receive a new layer of asphalt through $500,000 in federal funding:
• Deer Flat Road from Linder Road to Ten Mile Road
• Avalon Street from Ten Mile Road to Bridge Street
Before new asphalt can be laid, utility manholes along both road sections must be lowered. To create a more uniform and even surface, Avalon Street will undergo a special process that involves removing the top layer of asphalt and mixing it with underlying gravel. The road will then be leveled, compacted and repaved. Once the new asphalt is laid, the roads will receive new lane markings. Crews anticipate starting the Deer Flat section first.
The contractor is permitted to work weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and may also work weekends from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; however, crews will not be permitted to work during Kuna Days, August 5 and 6. At times, work on the two road sections will occur simultaneously.
Possible construction impacts include general construction noise, large trucks and equipment, jack hammering, reduced speeds, flaggers directing traffic, short delays and lane restrictions. There may also be periods of time where motorists will drive on a temporary gravel surface.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Looking for something to do in Kuna this weekend?
The Lavender Merchant Lavender Festival will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, at 2871 Stroebel Road, Kuna.
Come and visit the lavender field in full bloom, pick a bouquet of lavender (scissors and baskets provided) and experience the perfume and beauty of this captivating herb. Make and take a lavender bottle. Handmade lavender products will be featured. While you are here, visit other vendors selling their own special products. Lunch and desserts provided by Sophie’s Choice. There are 1,000 plants, including culinary lavender, for u-pick. Pottery by Dancing With Fire, handmade wallets by G, handmade scarves, garden furniture. Shirley Williams, watercolor artist, will be painting on site. Punky Doodle, Hats To You, snow cones and lemonade.
There will be a Cooking With Lavender presentation on Saturday at 1:00 by Maria Sestero of Sophie’s Choice.
No charge for admission. UPick is $5.00 a bunch
Come and visit the lavender field in full bloom, pick a bouquet of lavender (scissors and baskets provided) and experience the perfume and beauty of this captivating herb. Make and take a lavender bottle. Handmade lavender products will be featured. While you are here, visit other vendors selling their own special products. Lunch and desserts provided by Sophie’s Choice. There are 1,000 plants, including culinary lavender, for u-pick. Pottery by Dancing With Fire, handmade wallets by G, handmade scarves, garden furniture. Shirley Williams, watercolor artist, will be painting on site. Punky Doodle, Hats To You, snow cones and lemonade.
There will be a Cooking With Lavender presentation on Saturday at 1:00 by Maria Sestero of Sophie’s Choice.
No charge for admission. UPick is $5.00 a bunch
Friday, July 8, 2011
Kuna residents need to start speaking up in public
A reader was in my office the other day when City Council member Rich Cardoza happened to stop by. After a few minutes of jawboning, the reader kind of let Cardoza have it over the proposed $22 business license fee being proposed by the city. It was clear that the reader was a bit upset over the prospect of having to pay $22 a year just because he happened to own a business and lived in the city of Kuna.
The merits of the proposal aside for just a minute, here's what really troubles me: What would have happened if Cardoza hadn't happened to be strolling by at that moment or hadn't decided to stop in my office. How would Cardoza have known that this person didn't like the business license fee idea?
In recent weeks, I have written editorials about the business license fee, the Kuna Chamber taking over Kuna Days, the city's new taxi ordinance, pressurized irrigation for a national chain among many other controversial stories. How many letters to the editor have I received about these topics? None. How many people have shown up at City Council meetings to voice their opinions? Slim to none.
Cardoza, too, complained to me that he doesn't receive nearly enough feedback on these difficult issues. He complains about our "coffeeshop culture" where everyone wants to complain at the coffeeshop — usually with ridiculously false information — rather than actually do something about it.
If you don't like something — or if you support something — for Pete's sake, let the City Council know about it. Write a letter to the editor, write a letter to council. Do something. But formulating an opinion, usually based on some false rumor or gossip, at the coffeeshop or at the end of the bar does absolutely nothing.
In one of our surveys that we disseminate to our readers, one of our subscribers said we'd get a lot more letters to the editor if they could be anonymous.
Maybe, but the quality of the information in those letters I can almost guarantee would be near zero. You see, when people have to actually put their name to something, they're a lot more careful about getting their facts straight. When you're anonymous, you can throw around all sorts of accusations and innuendo without having to back up your claim. Without your name, you don't have to worry about looking like a fool. So that's one of the main reasons we set the bar high on requiring names.
The subscriber complains, though, that people are afraid of putting their name on a letter because the mayor and the city are going to come after them. Please. Give me a break. First of all, this isn't the mafia. Secondly, it's that very attitude that allows the city to make decisions that people don't like. Knowing that no one in this town will speak out publicly against any one action gives the city all the power in the world to do whatever it wants.
Third, many, many times I have written things against the city. Heck, I not only put my name on it, I put my photo with it, too. So far, I still have my knee caps, my tires haven't been slashed, I haven't been "run out of business," my family hasn't been kidnapped. I'm living, breathing proof that we can have healthy dissent in this town.
Until the residents of this city grow up and start behaving like adults, all we're going to get in the future is the same thing we've always gotten in the past.
The merits of the proposal aside for just a minute, here's what really troubles me: What would have happened if Cardoza hadn't happened to be strolling by at that moment or hadn't decided to stop in my office. How would Cardoza have known that this person didn't like the business license fee idea?
In recent weeks, I have written editorials about the business license fee, the Kuna Chamber taking over Kuna Days, the city's new taxi ordinance, pressurized irrigation for a national chain among many other controversial stories. How many letters to the editor have I received about these topics? None. How many people have shown up at City Council meetings to voice their opinions? Slim to none.
Cardoza, too, complained to me that he doesn't receive nearly enough feedback on these difficult issues. He complains about our "coffeeshop culture" where everyone wants to complain at the coffeeshop — usually with ridiculously false information — rather than actually do something about it.
If you don't like something — or if you support something — for Pete's sake, let the City Council know about it. Write a letter to the editor, write a letter to council. Do something. But formulating an opinion, usually based on some false rumor or gossip, at the coffeeshop or at the end of the bar does absolutely nothing.
In one of our surveys that we disseminate to our readers, one of our subscribers said we'd get a lot more letters to the editor if they could be anonymous.
Maybe, but the quality of the information in those letters I can almost guarantee would be near zero. You see, when people have to actually put their name to something, they're a lot more careful about getting their facts straight. When you're anonymous, you can throw around all sorts of accusations and innuendo without having to back up your claim. Without your name, you don't have to worry about looking like a fool. So that's one of the main reasons we set the bar high on requiring names.
The subscriber complains, though, that people are afraid of putting their name on a letter because the mayor and the city are going to come after them. Please. Give me a break. First of all, this isn't the mafia. Secondly, it's that very attitude that allows the city to make decisions that people don't like. Knowing that no one in this town will speak out publicly against any one action gives the city all the power in the world to do whatever it wants.
Third, many, many times I have written things against the city. Heck, I not only put my name on it, I put my photo with it, too. So far, I still have my knee caps, my tires haven't been slashed, I haven't been "run out of business," my family hasn't been kidnapped. I'm living, breathing proof that we can have healthy dissent in this town.
Until the residents of this city grow up and start behaving like adults, all we're going to get in the future is the same thing we've always gotten in the past.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Happy Fourth of July — now clean up after yourself
There were 20 fireworks-related calls to Kuna police over the past week, but no citations were issued, acording to police.
Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 26, otherwise known as the Fireworks Act of 1997, allows only “nonaerial common fireworks,” which means “any fireworks such as ground spinners, fountains, sparklers, smoke devices or snakes designed to remain on or near the ground and not to travel outside a 15-foot diameter circle or emit sparks or other burning material which land outside a 20-foot diameter circle or above a height of 20 feet. Nonaerial common fireworks do not include firecrackers, jumping jacks or similar products.”
For those Kuna residents who chose to set off illegal fireworks Monday night, the least you can do is clean up after yourself.
Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 26, otherwise known as the Fireworks Act of 1997, allows only “nonaerial common fireworks,” which means “any fireworks such as ground spinners, fountains, sparklers, smoke devices or snakes designed to remain on or near the ground and not to travel outside a 15-foot diameter circle or emit sparks or other burning material which land outside a 20-foot diameter circle or above a height of 20 feet. Nonaerial common fireworks do not include firecrackers, jumping jacks or similar products.”
For those Kuna residents who chose to set off illegal fireworks Monday night, the least you can do is clean up after yourself.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Kuna's building revenue dilemma
The flagging economy has laid bare a serious weakness in the city of Kuna’s budget, particularly when it comes to the Planning & Zoning Department.
Kuna City Council members are discussing ways to cut next year’s budget in the face of drastically reduced revenue from building permits associated with single-family residential houses and commercial buildings.
Already, the city has laid off one of two full-time building inspectors and put the other building inspector on part-time status. Earlier this year, the city put two planning department employees on half-time status.
That leaves planning director Steve Hasson (annual salary of $72,858.24) and planner II Troy Behunin (annual salary of $49,337.18) as the only two full-time employees in the Planning & Zoning Department.
The cost-cutting measures are due to plummeting revenues.
For example, in 2008-09, the Planning & Zoning Department generated about $350,000 in revenue from such items as building permits, mechanical permits, development support services and administrative services.
By 2009-10, though, the department revenue slipped to $248,000, and by the end of this fiscal year, the total is expected to drop to a meager $94,000, not even enough revenue to support the salaries of Hasson and Behunin.
Let’s be clear, though. The Planning & Zoning Department has never been a revenue maker. It’s historically been a cost center, when calculating direct revenues and expenses.
In 2009-10, when the department collected $248,000, the department spent about $421,000 on salaries, benefits, workers compensation, dues and memberships, training, office supplies, travel, etc.
So, strictly speaking, the department is subsidized by other areas of the general fund, such as property taxes, sales taxes, franchise fees, etc.
But with projected revenues of just $95,000 next year, the city can hardly expect to operate the department as is.
City treasurer John Marsh disclosed during a budget workshop last month that the city was exploring the idea of contracting out building inspection services.
City Council president Lisa Bachman, whose husband, Bob Bachman, was the laid-off building inspector, cautioned council members about going down that road of contracting inspection services, strictly from a financial perspective. She said it could cost the city even more revenue with a contractor.
The numbers seem to bear out that argument.
Kuna City Council members are discussing ways to cut next year’s budget in the face of drastically reduced revenue from building permits associated with single-family residential houses and commercial buildings.
Already, the city has laid off one of two full-time building inspectors and put the other building inspector on part-time status. Earlier this year, the city put two planning department employees on half-time status.
That leaves planning director Steve Hasson (annual salary of $72,858.24) and planner II Troy Behunin (annual salary of $49,337.18) as the only two full-time employees in the Planning & Zoning Department.
The cost-cutting measures are due to plummeting revenues.
For example, in 2008-09, the Planning & Zoning Department generated about $350,000 in revenue from such items as building permits, mechanical permits, development support services and administrative services.
By 2009-10, though, the department revenue slipped to $248,000, and by the end of this fiscal year, the total is expected to drop to a meager $94,000, not even enough revenue to support the salaries of Hasson and Behunin.
Let’s be clear, though. The Planning & Zoning Department has never been a revenue maker. It’s historically been a cost center, when calculating direct revenues and expenses.
In 2009-10, when the department collected $248,000, the department spent about $421,000 on salaries, benefits, workers compensation, dues and memberships, training, office supplies, travel, etc.
So, strictly speaking, the department is subsidized by other areas of the general fund, such as property taxes, sales taxes, franchise fees, etc.
But with projected revenues of just $95,000 next year, the city can hardly expect to operate the department as is.
City treasurer John Marsh disclosed during a budget workshop last month that the city was exploring the idea of contracting out building inspection services.
City Council president Lisa Bachman, whose husband, Bob Bachman, was the laid-off building inspector, cautioned council members about going down that road of contracting inspection services, strictly from a financial perspective. She said it could cost the city even more revenue with a contractor.
The numbers seem to bear out that argument.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Local newspapers are still Number One in terms of providing news and information
Communities served by community newspapers continue to demonstrate heavy reliance upon their local papers for news and information. Seventy-three percent say they read a local newspaper at least once a week.
Readers also say they read most or all of their community newspapers (78 percent), and of those going online for local news, 55 percent found it on the local newspaper’s website, compared to 17 percent for sites such as Yahoo, MSN or Google, and 26 percent for the website of a local TV station.
We hope you'll consider a subscription to the Kuna Melba News to ensure that Kuna continues to have a local newspaper. If you already subscribe and like the paper, please encourage your friends to start a subscription. They'll be glad they did. Just $28 for an entire year of being informed of what's happening in the community.
Readers also say they read most or all of their community newspapers (78 percent), and of those going online for local news, 55 percent found it on the local newspaper’s website, compared to 17 percent for sites such as Yahoo, MSN or Google, and 26 percent for the website of a local TV station.
We hope you'll consider a subscription to the Kuna Melba News to ensure that Kuna continues to have a local newspaper. If you already subscribe and like the paper, please encourage your friends to start a subscription. They'll be glad they did. Just $28 for an entire year of being informed of what's happening in the community.
Monday, July 4, 2011
If you want to stay in Kuna for the Fourth of July, Anchor Baptist Church event is your best bet
“Hug a Veteran” is a special annual event every July 4th on the Idaho Baptist College campus. It is a family and friend day to honor our veterans and those who are still serving our freedom-blessed nation of the United States of America. Plan to come around 10 a.m. for live entertainment, balloon art for the kids, and enjoy the ‘Extreme Team’ for awe of the whole family. Join us for a free fish fry, barbecue and all the trimmings. Dive into the 40-foot banana split and still have time to go enjoy all the other events throughout this great valley of ours. We are looking forward to seeing you! Ya’ll come on over! Plenty of parking in the back parking lot. They're at the corner of Columbia and Meridian roads.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
'Freedom is Never Free' monument dedication in Kuna is happening Monday
The Dedication of the “Freedom is Never Free” Monument in Kuna will be held Monday, July 4th, at 10:50 am at the Colonel Bernard Fisher Veterans Memorial Park in Kuna adjacent to the two baseball diamonds on 2nd Street.
Order of event will include:
• Welcome by Dave Lyon, Kuna VFW Post Commander
• Presentation of the colors
• Remarks by Kuna Mayor Scott Dowdy
• Flyby with flight of A-10 aircraft
• Retreat of the colors
• Close of Ceremony
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Melba Fourth of July celebration is Monday; here's a schedule of events
The Melba 4th of July Committee has been working hard planning the 2011 Independence Day celebration, which happens Monday, July 4. The day is once again packed with fun activities for everyone from dawn till dusk. The theme this year is “Proud to be an American.”
Start off your morning right with the QRU Fun Run as you take a nice jog or walk around Melba. Next you’ll want to join us for an “Old Fashioned” parade, either as a spectator or participant. There is no entry fee to be in the parade, and everyone is invited to participate.
After the parade, you’ll surely want to hit the fairway of games, crafts and food row. At the city park you can enjoy an antique tractor pull. Not far from the park, at the Melba Senior Center, you will find the best fried chicken lunch around, starting at 11:30. The rest of the day is packed with a car show, stage entertainment under the big net, a horseshoe tournament, and a huge hit with the kids is the chicken run. The day will come to an end with the spectacular fireworks display at dusk.
Melba Olde Tyme 4th of July Celebration schedule
Monday, July 4
7 a.m.: Registration For Fun Run
8 a.m.: QRU Fun Run (7:45 a.m. For 6 Milers)
9 a.m.: Parade Line-Up
9 a.m.: Arts & Crafts Fair
9 a.m.: Food Concessions
9:30 a.m.: Judging Of Parade Entries
10:30 a.m.: Fly-Over & Parade
11 a.m. (Approx.): Car Show (Following Parade)
11 a.m.: Fairway Of Children’s Games
11:30 a.m.: Fried Chicken Lunch–Senior Center
12 p.m.: Antique Tractor Pull
1 p.m.: Old Tyme Young’uns, main stage
1 p.m.: Horseshoe Pitching
2 p.m.: Old Tymers Softball At Melba Park
2 p.m.: Hinderliter & Friends, main stage
3 p.m.: Chicken Round-Up
3 p.m.: Karen Flint, main stage
4 p.m.: Mexican Dancers, main stage
Dave & Pam Mangum (Tentative), main stage
5 p.m.: Cloggers, main stage
6 p.m.: Bob Miller Band, main stage
Special Award – Citizen of the Year, main stage
7 p.m.: The Knights, main stage
Dusk (Approx. 10:30 p.m.): Fireworks
Start off your morning right with the QRU Fun Run as you take a nice jog or walk around Melba. Next you’ll want to join us for an “Old Fashioned” parade, either as a spectator or participant. There is no entry fee to be in the parade, and everyone is invited to participate.
After the parade, you’ll surely want to hit the fairway of games, crafts and food row. At the city park you can enjoy an antique tractor pull. Not far from the park, at the Melba Senior Center, you will find the best fried chicken lunch around, starting at 11:30. The rest of the day is packed with a car show, stage entertainment under the big net, a horseshoe tournament, and a huge hit with the kids is the chicken run. The day will come to an end with the spectacular fireworks display at dusk.
Melba Olde Tyme 4th of July Celebration schedule
Monday, July 4
7 a.m.: Registration For Fun Run
8 a.m.: QRU Fun Run (7:45 a.m. For 6 Milers)
9 a.m.: Parade Line-Up
9 a.m.: Arts & Crafts Fair
9 a.m.: Food Concessions
9:30 a.m.: Judging Of Parade Entries
10:30 a.m.: Fly-Over & Parade
11 a.m. (Approx.): Car Show (Following Parade)
11 a.m.: Fairway Of Children’s Games
11:30 a.m.: Fried Chicken Lunch–Senior Center
12 p.m.: Antique Tractor Pull
1 p.m.: Old Tyme Young’uns, main stage
1 p.m.: Horseshoe Pitching
2 p.m.: Old Tymers Softball At Melba Park
2 p.m.: Hinderliter & Friends, main stage
3 p.m.: Chicken Round-Up
3 p.m.: Karen Flint, main stage
4 p.m.: Mexican Dancers, main stage
Dave & Pam Mangum (Tentative), main stage
5 p.m.: Cloggers, main stage
6 p.m.: Bob Miller Band, main stage
Special Award – Citizen of the Year, main stage
7 p.m.: The Knights, main stage
Dusk (Approx. 10:30 p.m.): Fireworks
Friday, July 1, 2011
Idaho Piecemakers Quilt Show is scheduled
The 12th Annual Idaho PieceMakerS Quilt Show in Kuna will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7, at Kuna High School. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. There is an 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.
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.
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