WECRD board refutes charges

Dear residents of western Elmore County:

We feel it is important to address comments, errors and omissions found in the letter to the editor in the July 15, 2009 issue of the Mountain Home News entitled "WECRD petition organizer alarmed by data in documents."

Community members have several options to communicate with the WECRD board. They may have dialogue (defined as a formal discussion, especially between opposing sides in a political context) with the WECRD directors at our meetings by requesting to be placed on the WECRD agenda. Agendas are posted 48 hours in advance as defined by law for public view.

If time allows at the end of our meetings we offer to hear "public comment" (defined as remark, statement, interpretation or commentary). Board member time management is the key factor here.

Hearing public comment is a common practice with most organizational board meetings. The directors will listen to comments and often choose not to respond and take no action at that time for a multitude of reasons.

This was the case at our last meeting. She (the letter writer) was invited to speak and asked many questions and was encouraged to do so. She was then informed the board would need to get back to her after they could access the documents and provide complete and responsible answers.

At the July 22 regular meeting (tonight at 7 p.m.) the WECRD Board will address the following items and as always the public is invited.

1. In the March 18, 2009, minutes, the directors announced the invitation of Vice President of Strategic Operations, Treasure Valley YMCA, Billie Bemasconi, to speak at a luncheon for area leaders.

During that meeting Billie was able to help the group brainstorm and collectively nominate representatives of our community for the purpose of becoming members of the three steering committees.... (Programs and Facility; Communication and Community Ownership; Budget and Finance).

2. On May 13, 2009, the press release "The Treasure Valley YMCA announces Plans to Work with the WECRD" appeared in the Mountain Home News.

The YMCA CLDC (Community Leadership Development Committee) formation is nearly complete and Directors Sellers and Marsh are enthusiastically waiting to learn who has been selected to serve. Director Borgholthaus will serve as the liaison between the CLDC and the WECRD board.

Mark Hiddleston and Alan Bermensolo have agreed to be the co-chairmen of the CLDC. As part of the YMCA protocol these individuals were selected by an overwhelming majority of the YMCA interest group composed of local community leaders. We are delighted Mr. Bermensolo and Mr. Hiddleston are willing to serve, as they are among our community's finest and will serve all of us well.

The WECRD board understands the YMCA process will be thorough and trusts that the community members selected by Mark Hiddleston, Alan Bermensolo, Billie Bemasconi and Director Borgholthaus will do an outstanding job for our community.

Director Borgholthaus states: "This has been an exciting process and I am confident those selected do indeed have the best interest of our community at heart. I believe the community will be pleased with their exchange of information and knowledge base. I can't wait to get started working with the entire group."

3. The 2010 Federal Appropriations application was completed and submitted on Feb. 9, 2009. These documents are available to review in our WECRD office. Reference to the "anticipated" start and completion date of the project includes the current preconstruction work. The completion date may be amended as needed. The design of the building submitted with the appropriations application will be amended after the YMCA market study is complete. The only stipulation by HUD is that the final design not exceed the certified footprint of the building on the property. Appropriation awards must be spent within seven years of the award date.

Knowing this we have adequate time to develop and construct a recreation center that meets the needs of this community.

4. Renewable Energy Resources is a term used as an illustration in the FY2008 Federal Appropriations "packet" to convey the WECRD's interest in a sustainable facility by using our natural resources efficiently. USDA Renewable Energy Resource Grants were investigated as well as Community Development Block Grants. We were notified we were not eligible for either of these programs and their funding.

The WECRD has been and will continue to comply with Idaho Law regarding seeking bids.

5. We have notified Rep. Simpson's office regarding a typo in the Federal Appropriation PFC of 2009 concerning naming the building after a sitting Member of Congress. The response will be amended at Wednesday's meeting.

We (you, the CDLC, the Treasure Valley YMCA, the WECRD directors, and the entire community), will see a wonderful community development unfold here. The Y process is a good one.

Our support for this project grows every day.

DOD is now advertising reduced or free YMCA memberships through MilitaryOneSource.com. "For local YMCAS."

Another great example of YMCA support was your (the letter writer's)e-mail to us on March 20, 2009:

"I just wanted to e-mail you and the WECRD Board and say congratulations!

I hear that the meeting on Thursday with the Y went well and I think this is a great step for the community. I am thrilled with the news and hope that the information obtained will be used and used well.

I hope that the people who make up the CDLG groups will be a diverse group of people so that the entire community is represented. I have every faith that this is the goal of the WECRD Board.

Good luck and I really do mean that. I have always supported a recreation facility but have been on a different page as far as this plan and the management. I hope you will pass my e-mail on to both Jana and Millie. Have a nice day.

Very truly yours,

Tracy L.

Together let us ALL trust in this process. Together we will give this project the time and effort needed for success.

Thank you for your time and patience.

In Service to Western Elmore County Recreational District,

Director Borgholthaus,

Director Sellers,

Director Marsh