By Kirk Chandler
I attended the Washington County Commissioners meeting on January 23rd to see what the Commissioners would do about taking the official Oath of the State of Idaho. Chairman Haines called for a vote whether to use the Official State Oath in State Code 59-401in Washington County. They voted in favor of using that oath, stands to reason where the counties gain their authority to be a county from the State. It is odd, that they would vote whether to follow State Law or not. Commissioner Wilkerson asked to take the official oath. Pictured is Chairman Haines having Commissioner Wilkerson take the official oath. Chairman Haines and Commissioner Marvin declined to take the Official Oath. The question then is, are those that don’t take the official State of Idaho Oath, Official? According to the State Law, an elected or someone appointed to an elected office must take the official oath. I guess some of those we have elected in the county don’t feel the need to follow State code or law unless it fits what they want to do. “Sad Day” for Washington County.
The discussion on the Code change to unexempt farm buildings from building permit requirements continued. State Law says agriculture buildings are exempt from building permit requirements, but then who follows State Law? Mike Summers from Cambridge asks questions about the reasons for the county to increase regulations on its citizens and who brought up the process. Commissioner Marvin said that he requested Bonnie Brent, the planning and zoning administrator, draft the code change. There is a hearing set for public comment on March 6th, 1:00pm at the Vendome in Weiser. Plan on attending and let the Commissioners know your feelings on County regulations and increased cost to the citizens in the county. A copy of the new proposed ordinance can be obtained from the planning and zoning office. Each person will be given 3 minutes to speak and written comments will be accepted. They can submit comments to the planning and zoning office, the clerk’s office prior to the hearing or hand comments in at the meeting. The question this week is, Am I going to be involved in limiting an overreaching government?
