Letter to the Editor

Isaac was right to question church

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Dear editor:

Regarding the letter to the editor from John Jackson, published Jan. 27:

The Catholic Church is a strong force in our community and it is exciting to have this plan in the works to have the church expand in our community.

Though the proposal is informative and professionally done it does not coincide with the city ordinances.

As for the "FAIR and EQUAL" treatment, the issue here is that someone wishes to receive over and above that. They wish to circumvent the ordinances in place. If the rules are bent or broken for one organization, how is the city to enforce them if another organization feels they are beyond the law?

As stated in Mr. Jackson's letter to the editor, representatives of the Boise Catholic Diocese were brought in as business professionals to create and present the proposal. They are people who have no investment in our community and will not reap the benefits or consequences of this proposal.

The local business owner who indicated that he would "love to have a church like this next to his business" is on Airbase Road where parking is not an issue.

In regards to the "colossal structure" the Mormon community is building, it will not include a school as stated, and as for residents in the area being unaware of the project, when I purchased my home just a block away from the property four years ago, I was informed by my Real Estate agent that the property was owned by the LDS Church and the site was intended for the building of a meeting house in the near future.

Councilwoman Isaac seems to care deeply about the future of Mountain Home. She is certainly not responsible for the King's building or the property on which it is located and should not be held accountable for the unsightly eyesore that it is.

Her point at last Monday night's meeting did not seem to be antagonistic toward the church. She is focusing on the future of Mountain Home's downtown as well as the present.

Her stand is to back the original findings of the Planning and Zoning Commission and do her job as an elected official.

I am grateful that Councilwoman Isaac took the time to "interrogate" the presentation at Monday's meeting. Every side needs to be discussed and she is the only one on the council willing to do what is necessary to make that happen.

The purpose of our elected officials is to back our community and do what is best for us as a whole, not what is best for one organization.

Jerri Johnson