Congress may actually pass an economic stimulus bill this week, which is good news for the short-term needs of the country. There is no question the economy is tottering, and could easily tip over from recession to depression, so a bill that focuses on saving jobs and creating jobs is desperately needed. The good news is that the bill will definitely help achieve some of those aims. The bad news is that it will lay a crushing debt burden on taxpayers for the future, which can only be addressed if government becomes far more efficient in the use of tax dollars than it has in the past. That could very well force, down the road, what many of us have wanted for years, a smaller, more efficient government. But somehow, that doesn't seem likely. Because Congress hasn't figured out that the model for government is, and should be, changing. And the best example is the stimulus package. Despite billions of dollars in cuts, it still contains way too much pork. And some of the cuts (to make way for that pork) seem to make no sense, such as dropping $40 billion to help keep schools from having to fire teachers. That's counter-productive. The bill is supposed to save or create jobs, not leave them threatened. Both sides of the aisle bear the blame. The Democratic leadership rolled over on way too many pet projects among its members, losing sight of the long-term goal of the bill. And Republicans kept insisting on sticking to the same failed policies of the past, and playing the same old games where personal and party political power carried more weight than the needs of the nation. One GOP leader actually admitted his goal for the bill, and the amendments he introduced, were designed to divide the Democrats and make them look bad. So much for caring about the people of this country. Both parties should be ashamed. It is time for Congress to look up from its myopic and petty party power games, and its proclivity for pork, and look at the desperate state of the nation, focusing solely on programs that stand a good chance of meeting the goal of keeping people working. Making things work should be a bipartisan issue. This bill should be about America, not the Republican or Democratic parties. -- Kelly Everitt

Don't sneeze at 300 jobs

Posted Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at 8:29 AM

We would encourage the companies considering Mountain Home as the location for a 300-job meat packing plant to select this area as it's preferred location.

There are obviously some concerns that need to be worked out. Traffic, for example, at the Burger King intersection is already dangerous and the area should have been rebuilt -- with a light -- years ago. This would spur those needed improvements, which we believe should be required for the project.

In addition, there are potential odor issues, although 500 head of cattle is not particularly large. Still, the local dairy industry has shown that confined cattle operations can be operated efficiently and without posing an odor nuisance. The county's CAFO ordinances have worked. There is no reason to suppose this project wouldn't be equally efficient.

But most importantly, we would welcome 300 well-paying jobs to this community. That would be the kind of economic shot in the arm that would get things rolling again here.

Economically, we've been doing better than most communities in Idaho in recovering from the Great Recession, but this project could easily restore us to the solid growth we enjoyed prior to 2008.

Assuming that all major concerns are appropriately addressed, this could be a welcome project in these economically unsettled times.

Comments

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I agree, this town desperately needs new businesses and jobs. I hope the city council and commissioners will do everything in their power to bring this plant here.

-- Posted by Second Wind on Wed, Jul 25, 2012, at 3:12 PM
I also agree - the Mountain Home community not only needs but deserves a break like this...just keep the local employment office out of it and more "local" folks will get the jobs!

-- Posted by Offgrid on Wed, Jul 25, 2012, at 8:56 PM
I believe this would be one of the best things that could happen in Mountain Home since I moved here in '07. I'm originally from a small town in central Texas and there were more jobs to be had there than here in Mountain Home. If someone wanted to work, they could find work, maybe not the kind of job they wanted; but a job that paid at least minimum wages could be found. I know several people here that can't find jobs unless they move to Boise. Driving expenses make it almost impossible to commute. It's hard to just pick up and move to Boise when you haven't enough money to even pay a months rent for a place to live. I'm retired and not looking for work; but really concerned about the people who are jobless and have no prospects of work.

I've lived close enough to feed lots that the smell was offensive at times. These problems are very minor with the laws governing the industry now. All that can be done to bring this industry to Mountain Home should be put into effect NOW! There may be some issues that I'm not aware of; but from all that I've heard about it, I can't believe that we should let it slip away.

-- Posted by texasred777 on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 6:59 AM
So tell us Mike, did you feel the same way about Walmart? Do you want a community of retired folks and military stay at home wife's? What about the kids growing up? They need jobs. Base cut backs leave locals without jobs. You telling them to get out?

Towns without jobs DIE!

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 9:09 AM
Kelly, do we know a proposed location for this plant?

Albert

-- Posted by Albert Clement on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 1:14 PM
Zook, this town needs to stop relying on the base for it's livelihood. People have been saying that for years and when opportunities like this come up, we must take advantage of them. I, like the other posters, also don't want Mtn Home to be just a town of retired military living here. There's no way Mtn Home could ever become another Meridian. I notice you say that whenever any business looks to locate here. Maybe you do need to consider a town like Praire or Pine/Featherville area that will probably never grow. I think most people in Mtn Home want jobs and more opportunities. Just my opinion.

-- Posted by Second Wind on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 4:01 PM
We also need to consider quality of life when these things come in and what they will do to the surrounding area/environment. It does no good for home sales, quality of life, etc. if what is brought in stinks or pollutes.

The Base smells of cow poop nearly daily from Simplot. There are days where that combines with dairy stink and this entire area smells like a giant feed lot. There is a responsibility to the "powers that be" to protect ALL landowners from such things.

Elmore County is the place that many "dirty" things like to locate due to our money over quality of life way of thinking. It does no good to have jobs here if those jobs ruin quality of life.

Some do not want to listen to dogs bark or step in poop in the park while on a walk. I do not want to smell cow poop and rot.

Be careful at times what you wish for. Attend the meetings. Sometimes, a good thing is a good thing. Sometimes...buyer beware.

-- Posted by OpinionMissy on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 5:06 PM
I have to agree with everyone else. Not only should the town not depend on the base but the county should not.

OM.....Do you work on base to make a statement such as "The Base smells of cow poop nearly daily from Simplot. There are days where that combines with dairy stink and this entire area smells like a giant feed lot. There is a responsibility to the "powers that be" to protect ALL landowners from such things."

I only ask because I do and spend most days outside and cannot remember the last time I smelled anything beside the smell of freedom, jet fuel.

-- Posted by B Mullen on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 9:15 PM
There has been times when we sat and waited for the list of base closures to come out. I have lived here for 34 years and my Son and Grandson were born and raised here. Most of their childhood friends were also born and raised here.

I welcome more businesses to come here including a meat packing plant. It would be nice if our kids didn't have to move away from their hometown to get a job!

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Thu, Jul 26, 2012, at 10:01 PM
I'll take private enterprize over government jobs every time. Bring on the cows!!!

-- Posted by Second Wind on Fri, Jul 27, 2012, at 3:29 PM
In total agreement with the other posters on here. It's long overdue for Mtn Home to attract and keep businesses and survive on it's own without the Air Base. Especially nowdays with Obama regime wanting to slash the military budget to the bone. The old-timers who live in the past and want Mtn Home to remain their own little private Mayberry are short-sighted. This NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude is selfish and wrong. I also urge city council, commissioners et al. to bring this business to Mtn Home.

-- Posted by Redroth on Sat, Jul 28, 2012, at 4:46 PM
Strange comment coming from the champion of capitalism and the American way, Zook.

-- Posted by Second Wind on Sat, Jul 28, 2012, at 8:54 PM
Yes, Bazooka, the majority rules. And I think if you did a straw poll here you'd see that most people want more businesses and more opportunities, instead of this town living or dying according to the whims of the air base. Look at the comments on this blog. Sounds like the anti-growth people (all two of you) are in the minority.

For someone to retire in a small town and hunker down and expect that the town will NEVER grow or change is living in a dream world. There is a huge difference between Boise and Mountain Home. If every time some business shows an interest in our town, some yahoo spouts off "OH NO, WE'RE GOING TO BECOME ANOTHER BOISE!!", well, it's just plain dumb. People here do want a living wage, though, and not to have to commute to Boise for work and everything else.

-- Posted by Second Wind on Sun, Jul 29, 2012, at 9:06 AM
You got it right, Second Wind. Well said.

I quake in my boots thinking Obama is going to get a second term and reduce MHAFB mission to becoming a parking lot and engine repair shop. Whoops! There goes the property value of my home to a big fat zero. Those of you who have homes and investments here should be worried.

Show your support for this cattle plant and other businesses.With the trains going through here and close to a major airport, this would make a great location for a business like this. We need to reduce our dependence on that base BIG TIME!

-- Posted by Redroth on Sun, Jul 29, 2012, at 9:36 AM
After many years of reading this paper, one thing I have observed is Zook does not wish for the town to grow at all. And no amount of debating with him will change his mind. That is the reason why he and so many of us gave large portions of our lives, to preserve the ability to speak your mind. The major part of Zook's arguments I have always disagreed with his when he tells any that supports growth to move. I say Zook if you do not want growth then maybe it is you that might consider moving. Many of us do not want this town to turn into another Boise but then again we do not want it to turn into a ghost town. I was at a base that closed and the town had no other business to support it. I happened back through the same town 5 years later and 1/2 the houses were empty and over 1/2 the business had closed. Is that what you want for this wonderful town?

-- Posted by B Mullen on Sun, Jul 29, 2012, at 11:58 AM
Shortly after MHAFB was re-activated in May of 1953, Idahoans became concerned with what they saw as several "negative" impacts associated with the installation, ranging from strangers at their "secret" fishing holes, to groups of young airmen enjoying a night out in Boise for a movie, to the prospect of their daughter(s) being seduced by these boys in uniforms. The end result was a grass roots campaign across southern Idaho against their new neighbor.

Whether the idea came from the paymaster or from higher up the chain of command, the AF came up with a deviously simple plan to counter this opposition.

Pay the troops with $2 bills.

As most cash registers had no place for these bills, merchants immediately noticed the added burden of handling these odd notes separately. Bankers joined the merchants, citing the potential for passing counterfeit bills. They too had to go to extra effort to dispose of the bills, as larger banking brokerages opted to only accept minimum amounts of the $2 bills. And that meant the local bank might have to hold these bills for a long time before they had enough to bundle them and trade them in.

But, businesses with few if any military customers from Ontario, Oregon to Salt Lake City, from Reno, Nevada to Spokane, began to see the bills in significant numbers.

Following a second round of the special pay day process, the color of green seemed to soothe the local critics.

Go figure.

-- Posted by wh67 on Sun, Jul 29, 2012, at 1:56 PM
You're right, Old Guy. I was in the military too and totally believe in a person's right to speak their mind. But I have to admit it just riles me when Zook or anyone else tells someone to move when they want any kind of improvement for this town at all. I say if you're going to be blunt and disrespectful of people's opinions, you're going to get it thrown back at you.

-- Posted by Second Wind on Sun, Jul 29, 2012, at 2:13 PM
Wow something that I will agree with.

-- Posted by shockwave on Wed, Aug 1, 2012, at 5:37 PM
I settled here for the small town atmosphere,but I REALIZED THAT THE TOWN MUST GROW as long as that growth is measured and controled I dont have a problem with it I welcome it.I am a parent who has lost a child to somewhere else because of the lack of oppertunity here.I did not like that and I am surE I am not alone. I HAVE BEEN HERE PRETTY CLOSE TO 40 YRS we have not done a real good job of bringing in jobs to our community and that needs to change it can be done.The community will change YES but how it changes is up to US.Small town atmosphere is a way of life and we control that. I do not want to see us wether on the vine I have advocated for years about jobs.we DIDNT GET THEM BECAUSE THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE WHO DIDNT WANT TO LOOSE CONTROL.Well they are leaving us and things do change.I DIDNT LIKE THE FEELING I GOT IN TOWN SO I MOVED OUTSIDE OF TOWN,AND I FEEL BETTER.And I dont have to lock my doors .......I love IT.WE must move forward,the question is How?......PERSONALLY I DONT want to be anywhere else.......and I was born and raised in BKLYN N.Y.

-- Posted by lamont on Sat, Aug 4, 2012, at 11:26 AM
Uhmm you ever think bazookaman that maybe just maybe there wouldn't be all this "gang" activity and violence, if the youth actually had something to do in this town. Like oh maybe a YMCA or more places to work to keep people busy. This town will continue to grow, people will continue to retire here, and bring their families here, which in most cases like my family includes children. I like the small town too, but a some expantion will help a lot more. I agree with Clement on this maybe you need to move to Pine or Featherville. Cause I can guarantee that you wont see a Walmart put in up there in your lifetime.

-- Posted by shockwave on Sat, Aug 4, 2012, at 3:39 PM

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