County's delays cost area residents jobs

Dear editor:

Why am I not surprised to read the headline "County rejects comp plan amendments"? Why am I also not surprised that Payette County eagerly accepted Alternative Energy Holdings, Inc.'s proposal to build a nuclear generating facility in their area after being stone-walled and stymied by Elmore County citizens?

Could it be because they know it will greatly benefit the Payette, Weiser and Ontario, Ore., area by stimulating growth in business while at the same time creating a solid tax base?

New taxes created, and not from the local citizens, could be used to build and maintain better schools, hiring additional teachers in the process (we know that Idaho currently doesn't have the money), provide much-needed better paying jobs, and increase the general standard of living.

Who knows, maybe our young people would choose to stick around rather than moving to other parts of the country where opportunities are greater.

I have been so frustrated by the lack of foresight shown by our city and county politicians and an absolute anti-industrial attitude since relocating here in 1975.

I don't recall the number of times a proposal was put forth to build a manufacturing plant of one kind or another somewhere in Elmore County only to have blockades built and fear-mongering rhetoric launched with the eventual result of other locals of the state or country reaping the financial benefits. And how about the rejection of Cabelas occupying the old K-Mart building in favor of a local auto distributorship? What a waste!

I realize that this area has always been more favorable to its agricultural heritage but without government subsidies, half of the smaller ranchers and farmers have been forced to sell their lands to real estate developers. Ever notice how many newly built or older houses are sitting empty due to foreclosure or are up for sale?

Too many people are counting on the Air Force base to continue to carry the full employment and economic burden in this area.

True, there are many retired military folks who make Mountain Home our home and actively support the base. But I wonder how much longer it is going to survive the U.S. governments' games of playing politics with what newly developed aircraft are going to be stationed here or even if we are going to get to keep what we have.

It seems to me as though past plans have evaporated in every instance and politics have been the main culprit -- not enough "political pull" in Washington, D.C.

Maybe it would be better if the base just "faded into the sunset" like every other industry that has been rejected. It would certainly catch everyone's attention around here. Remember 1964 when the base closed down? Some longtime residents do.

-- Fred Horn