Reader raises variety of issues

Hi Rhonda O'Hanley:

Very well written letter. You make many very good points to ponder about in Mountain Home, Idaho.

Just something for you to ponder when you say "some busy crosswalks at intersections do not have "push the button" to cross street".

From personal experience on 15 April 2014 my dog and I got hit by a car while using the "push the button" controlled intersections near the Wells Fargo bank on Jackson St. My back still aches and my dogs back legs are wrecked for the rest of her life. No worries though. Their insurance company will gladly pay for almost half of the medical bills to get me from the street to the hospital.

Just thought you might learn from my experience when it comes a light controlled intersection.

Merry Christmas All,

TB

Wow.. you have been very respectful, and kind while bringing up some tough issues. Well done.

I agree with you on most everything you had to say. I just had a couple of concerns that I felt were important to address in case any of these issues were going to be addressed by the City. I both drive, and walk. Meaning, for transportation to the store I sometimes walk, and other times drive. I also walk as a leisure activity. I have seen so many problems, but just kept quiet because there are some things not worth the spike in blood pressure. And, I felt alone. If no one else cared, why would I make myself go grey over it. So, I am very thankful to hear your opinion and very much a supporter.

First, the sidewalks. While some are in need of repair don't forget that this summer many of the corners were updated and places where there was not a dip, and it was not handi-cap accessible have now been fixed and are. That was an issue near to my heart since 2000. Walking with a stroller was awful before. So, thank you for addressing this. I didn't say anything before because having easily accessible recycling was much more important to me, I want a planet for my grandchildren.

My concern with asking the city to address these issues is this... do you remember when the city changed the parking spaces on side streets to the diagonal direction, and made the corners of the city blocks larger to accommodate the change? Well, many of the small businesses were billed for those changes. (The trees that were planted back then as much as I support Arbor Day, have grown to a size that violates city code of being above 8' off the sidewalk, and are quite cumbersome when walking) I would hope that the repairs that need to be done would not bring a financial distress to our local business owners. It is already hard to open a business, no matter what need you are fulfilling in the community. Rent for a new business is high for our economy, taxes on everything in your store each year for the county to give the WECRD, and trying to get the customers in your door if you don't have great parking ( Stardust Plaza has good parking, and Beall's, most businesses only have 2-3 convieient and easily accessible spots), and surviving the first 3 years is a struggle on its own without having water increased, and a bill from the city for repairs our taxes should pay for.

CROSSWALKS!!! Oh wow, you had my attention at that, I tell you. Being someone who walks I watch people break the law and get away with it all the time. Yes, pedestrians have the right away. But try telling that to the woman talking on the phone, the teenager with friends in the car, the man on his way to work. The city (perhaps, I do not know for a fact) has put up signs in some of the busier walkways reminding drivers, however, now that they are use to seeing the signs between the lanes they go ignored. My biggest gribe is for Hacker Middle School. There is a great crosswalk back by the lunch room, American Legion and 9th street. The school doesn't have the money to pay for a guard at that crosswalk, and drivers don't stop! They feel they are driving and a walker is no match for a car, as TB posted above. I mentioned that I both drive and walk because I see walkers who are so discourteous to drivers it makes me want to cry. (well, I am a woman!) One of the busy crosswalks, by Kurley's and the underpass... if a walker walks uses the north side crosswalk to cross Main street, cars that are turning can go while drivers on Main Street have to yield. Yet, walkers will use the south side, then cross Jackson in front of waiting cars. If you've never drove, or have limited experience I understand having little knowledge about traffic flow, maybe the city could get rid of the south crosswalk and make walkers cross Jackson to cross Main on the North side. And that goes for many areas. This is just a busy crosswalk after school. And traffic could continue to flow with a pedestrian in the crosswalk if it were modified slightly.

Years ago I spoke with a woman who, without her permission I will not name, yet gave a great suggestion that I do not want to take credit for, give credit where credit is due. She purposed that since it would be impractical to modify streets, alley's, and scary traffic areas like the Wells Fargo exit, to put in mirrors. Leaving the alley between the Manhattan and Kurley's is dangerous. Yet, it is the easiest way to leave the parking lot behind the Mellen Hotel. If there was one of those big circle mirrors, drivers could see if there were children coming, and people walking downtown on the weekend nights would be able to see if there was a car coming. While we are in a great community and we have been lucky, or fortunate, or have a power greater than us watching out for everyone... these could be the site for some very horrifying experiences. We have all seen challenged drivers, and challenged walkers... finding a way to improve safety should be a concern for all of us. If we are lucky, and things go right.. we will live to be old ourselves, and having taken the time to address some of these issues now could be for our benefit when we are older and those in charge of running things are busy with whatever technology brings us in the future.

New places to eat?! Wouldn't that be great. You would think the city officials would be out begging places to move here, have a smaller restaurant here. But, that's not exactly how that works. I believe you could go up to Sizzler's headquarters and beg them on bended knee and they would still say no. It would have nothing to do with what kind of employees they would have, it would have everything to do with how long it would take them to get their investment back. Where in Salt Lake, a Sizzler could make their initial investment back in profits within say, 5 years.. it could take twice as long here. And that's just not good business. Nothing to do with anyone. Everything to do with money, and that's what businesses are in business for. We are so lucky to have the cheese factory here. I kinda liked it with a Kings, and Kmart vs Walmart. Although one stop shopping is nice, we lost a lot of good businesses because of it. Not sure the city should of allowed them to build across from Kmart. Out on Airbase Road may have been better, then perhaps our community could of supported both stores. We drive up the hill, why not drive out towards the airport go shopping. It's to late now, but it might of been enough to start an entire new community out there. 20/20 vision is always when you look back. On the otherhand, if Sizzler were to put in a restarant that was 1/2 the size of a Boise location, and in an existing building, with the city giving incentives to any business who puts an additional location in Mtn. Home, like tax breaks for the first 5 years, free enrollment with the Chamber.. some things like that, maybe they could help encourage new eating places. I tell you, the quality of service we accept here is so sad. I recently took a friend from Seattle out to eat at one of our cute, 50's style diners. She was so excited and so was I. The food was not great, the service was ok. And I was sad. It use to be one of the best plates of food in town, friendliest service ... and as with everything, we support it even when they cut corners. You know why Boise has so many electricians? Because the people support it. If you get cheated, bad service, a HUGE estimate, or no estimate you can simply go somewhere else. We, on the other hand, support a handful of professionals who don't have to be professional. We don't require them to wear shirts or drive trucks that identify themselves, and we pay them even when we hear they have said, "write the check or they'll condemn your house" to an 83 year old woman. All hearsay, but in a larger city.. people who give service like that and write nasty personal opinions on business stationary, would quickly be out of business. Not here, they all operate here.. all those who are satisfied giving 1/2 *ssed customer service. Then you have business owners who would be mortified to find out any of their employees were anything less than professional, they expect and give 100%. It's a mixed bunch here, but few in the middle. And that might make it hard for a restaurant to decide to move here. It took us years of begging to get a Sally's Beauty Supply. And, hopefully they get the business they need to stay open. As long as they continue to have polite, helpful employees I believe they will. We'll see.

Goat heads!! If you have a kid with a bike that does not have solid tires... you truly know the problem. I tell you! Those things are everywhere. Who is the politician who does those commercials? Roger Batt? He might be someone that should be contacted to see what kind of help is available. I had the City Code Enforcer tell me I needed to take care of the problem in my yard (which is just embarrassing) and when I called the Mayor I was told the county could help me. However, when I contacted the county offices I was told they did not help with those things. I doubt the Mayor (who does a great job, and one of the first Mayors I truly like) was misinformed. Seemed more like they didn't want to help, or the help that was available was already allocated to their friends and family and since I am neither I did not qualify.

That is one of those good ol boy club things. However, the originals in that club would always help people because it was for a better community. The club that is now forming, is self serving and not community minded like the fore fathers of the bunch. (I've wrote on this before, how decades ago those who are now grandparents and great grandparents worked so hard through organizations like the Elk's to create a safe, clean, community and somehow those who watched them didn't understand... their kids and grandkids just lost the point, it wasn't about money or only helping you friends.. those were bonuses, it was about investing in the future, anyway...) You are right, the City needs a grant writer! I volunteer to help in any way I can, I acknowledge my limits and am not educated for such a job, however... I would gladly help. Whether I retire here, or move to warmer weather... I would love to say that in my lifetime I helped make a community a better place. What better legacy to leave my children.

While my recent dining experience was not awful, it wasn't what I expected. And I agree, it is our job as adults to set an example. We should be kind to our food servers, not just because they can spit in our food, but because its not an easy job. It goes both ways, the customer should always be right, even when they are wrong, and we should show if not our kids, the kids around us in public, how to treat one another. Even if you have a disagreement, its not always necessary to be mean, rude, or personal. We can all be professional and show children how to conduct yourself in negotiations. Life is a negotiation, and the quicker you develop good skills, the easier life is.

Thank You for voicing your opinion. It is so nice to see someone like minded speak up. Although it might not be a compliment to you, I am a good hearted person, and I care about our community. It is so small, it can be the best kept secret in the nation... and the best place to raise children and grow old. We are pretty close to perfect. There was only one perfect person in the history of the world, and I heard he was crucified, so I don't strive for perfection... but the top of the class, that is a reasonable request. With as many wonderful people that live here, the great organizations like the ODD Fellow's and considerate, caring citizens as yourself.. I see the potential. I hope others do too.

Thanks for giving me a voice, and listening to all I had to say.