Gooding Community Newsletter
Octorber 2019, #20
City Update From PWD Bybee
Community Pride Update
We have seen tremendous progress on property clean up! Keep up the good work. I have pledged to begin a daily ritual that if it were to catch on would really help. Each day I pull one or two weeds (sometimes more, but being conscious of making sure it is at least daily is more important). If everyone that is capable of doing this would join me, my guess is next year there will be a lot less weeds!
Utility Rates
This year we sent a mailer to utility customers letting them know the new rates. We would like to point out that the new rates have been “restructured” to be more fair to all users. The new rates balance out the price break to large volume users and allows 5,000 gallons into the “base rate” so that the city can maintain an even income to operate the water system. A lot of “low volume” users will actually see their water charges drop versus the old rate structure. The Sewer Debt Fee increased $9 per month, this is the second year of the three year plan for increases to cover the loan to replace the sewer treatment plant. The three consecutive year step increase was adopted by council to “spread the cost of the bond” out incrementally to help customers. In the 2020/ 2021 budget year we will be very close to going out to bid for construction and will have a much better idea of the anticipated construction cost estimates to forecast the amount needed for the final increase. We are working very hard to make sure we can keep the bottom line as low as possible. Currently we have: accepted the lowest interest rate available to us for the loan, received a block grant to pay $500,000 toward the construction cost of the plant, are designing a plant that has a low installation and maintenance cost that will be capable of meeting our discharge permit requirements for the future, and are exploring ways to reduce or offset power consumption cost by installing energy efficient equipment and even adding solar power generation to the operations.
Water
The temperatures are dropping quick! Be prepared by making sure back flow devices and other pipes are secured form freezing.
Airport
The dirt has started to fly on the new 635’ runway extension. Western Construction will have roughly 70 days to complete the “dirt work” portion of the project. Unfortunately, we will not see asphalt until spring/summer of 2021 due to a shortfall in FAA funding. At one point it looked like we were going to be able to complete the paving in 2019.
Parks
The Gooding School District has graciously given us the ability to construct the BMX Park adjacent to the Skate Park on 4th Ave. W. We will be working on the paperwork first and then getting some fencing installed this year and as time and weather permits, we will begin hauling in materials.
Toward the end of summer there was an increase in vandalism and mischievous behavior at the West Park and Lions Park. I encourage all of us to step up if you see something and report it; the community has donated a lot of money to make sure we have nice things to do and great places to do them. Our parks staff spent a great deal of time picking up after and fixing things that a few individuals caused. Wouldn’t it be great if they had more time to make things look better instead?
Streets
The city is very close to having the Transportation Master Plan completed. A ton of information has been gathered and a committee is being formed to assist the city in prioritizing the projects that will determine how we focus our resources toward improving and maintaining our mobility through the community.
ITD has been crack filling along Main St. this month. This work will prevent further deterioration of the asphalt until the road can receive a more permanent fix in 2025. The city is working with ITD, other local agencies, and civic groups to address all of the infrastructure along Main St. such as, water, sewer, storm drains, elimination of the old irrigation ditches, new LED street lighting with new poles and buried underground power feeds, curb, gutter and sidewalks, ADA accessible curb ramps, and conduits to provide fiber optic services through the downtown corridor.
Thank you all for helping our community to grow, prosper, and be a great place in which to live.
Gooding Public Library Officially Becomes a District!
Tree Pruning For Safety
Safety and reliability are critically important to Idaho Power. We want to make sure your lights come on when you need them, and we’re proud to say that we keep the lights on 99.975% of the time. We work hard to deliver power in a way that’s safe for you, your family, your pets and your business.
Pruning trees away from power lines is an important part of maintaining safe, reliable power for customers. We’re in communities and neighborhoods every day, looking for trees that are too close to power lines and pruning them.
Trees that touch power lines can be dangerous to people nearby or cause outages, especially in windy, stormy weather.
Give us a call at 208-388-2323 if you see a tree getting too close to a power line. We’ll send someone to assess the situation. In some cases, we can use a few simple pruning methods to keep the tree safe and encourage it to grow away from the line.
Watch this short video for more information on our pruning program.
Gooding PTA has Senator Gear for Sale
The PTA is so excited about our New Senator Gear! We love our Senators and love showing our Senator Pride!
All money earned for the PTA goes directly back into our schools. We provide funds for field trips, playground equipment, AR awards, Kindergarten graduation, special education, school nurse, library, art, tech, PE, and shop, plus much more. We appreciate all your support!!! We have sweatshirts, long sleeve T-shirts, regular t-shirts, baseball hats, buffalo plaid hats and beanies, We also have earrings with an assortment of sports on them and large drink tumblers!!!!
Please like us on Facebook
Gooding Schools PTA.
If interested please leave a message.
Gooding Music Program Continues to Grow
It is so exciting to see the progress of the Gooding Music Program!
The Red Thunder Band and Black Thunder Drum Line marched in the parade for the Gooding County Fair for the first time in over 15 years and were amazing to watch. You will have another chance to enjoy the marching band Thursday, October 3rd at 1:00 pm in the Homecoming Parade and again that evening at the Homecoming Game. The Red Thunder Band brings an elevated level of school spirit and fun to our home football games! They will also be performing at many of the home basketball games this winter.
The choir students in the Gooding Music Program traveled to watch VoicePlay (an award winning acapella quintet) in Burley recently and were able to learn more about harmonies and showmanship. The Red Thunder Band also has the opportunity this month to travel to Pocatello and observe the ISU Marching Band Festival!
This school year, the Gooding Association of Music Parents was also formed. This is a Booster Club organization for parents and supporters of the Gooding Music Program. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 4:00 pm in the GHS Music Room. All are welcome!
Gooding AMP welcomes all donations. Monetary or music equipment donations to the program will be used for scholarships, new music equipment, travel expenses, etc. For information on our sponsorship program, please email music@goodingschools.org.
IDAHO RODEO HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2019 INDUCTIONS AND INDUCTEES
The 2019 Idaho Rodeo Hall of Fame Cowboy Reunion, Meet and Greet and Inductions will be held at the Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center – 330 Canyon Crest Drive on Friday October 25th and Saturday October 26th in Twin Falls, ID
The Cowboy Reunion and Meet and Greet Coors Party will begin Friday the 25th at 5:00 in the lounge with appetizers and all you can drink beer for $10 sponsored by TEC Distributing – Coors Banquet.
The inductions sponsored by DL Evans Bank begins with a No Host Social Hour at 4:00 with a Tri-Tip Buffet Dinner, Inductions, Live and Silent Auction, and live entertainment and dance to follow by “Behind The Curtains” for $35.
Congratulations to the 2019 inductees! Jed Baker, born and raised in Idaho; Katie Breckenridge and husband Rob Struthers of B Bar B Ranch, Picabo ID, in the Western Heritage Category; the Christensen Brothers Rodeo Co. family – the late brothers, Bob Christensen, Sr. and Henry “Hank” Christensen, Bob Christensen, Jr., Linda Christensen (Parkhurst), Sherri Christensen (Smets), Vicki Christensen (O’Shieles) and their famous bucking horse “War Paint” from Oregon, having provided stock, rodeoed and performed in Idaho and many states; the late Ronnie Koll born in Wendell, ID; Clyde and Edie Longfellow of Lewiston, ID; Lewiston Roundup Committee of Lewiston, ID; the late Keith Maddox “the Hat King” of Weiser, ID; Joe Marvel, Mike Marvel and Pete Marvel from Nevada having rodeoed extensively in Idaho; the late Burel Mulkey born in Clyde, ID; Juanita O’Maley Slash T Rodeo from Gooding, ID; the late Jim Steen of Glenns Ferry, ID; Jon Taylor from Filer, ID; and Hank Williams born in American Falls and from Filer, ID.
Nominations are open for the following categories for 2021 and 2022: Animals; Announcers; Bull Fighters and Clowns; Pitmen/Pitwomen; Rodeo Competitors; Rodeo Photographers; Rodeo Queens at the National level; Significant Rodeo Related Volunteer Contributors; Stock Contractors; Timekeepers/Secretaries.
The Board of Directors have eliminated the categories of Western Heritage, Western Artists, Western Photography, Western Poetry, Western Entertainers and Western Music to get back to our rodeo roots.
If you wish to nominate someone instant message us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/idahorodeohalloffame/ , our web site at https://www.idahorodeo.com or call Judi VanDorn Thacker at (208) 850-9344.
If you wish to make reservations for either the reunion and Coors party on Friday the 25th or the Inductions, Dinner and Dance on Saturday the 26th contact Charmy LeaVell at (208) 539-0202.
OCTOBER PUBLICITY RELEASE FOR GOODING RESTORATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS AND THEATER
GREAT, Inc. is very excited to be moving forward with our restoration of the historic Schubert Theater for YOU, the community. The lifts and crew have arrived to begin to repair some of the brickwork and to restore the canopy above the marquee to its former beauty. We are delighted that the peeling paint will no longer be an eyesore and further deterioration of the canopy will cease. They will be working on this project for the next week or two.
Following this project will be the restoration and remodel of the lobby for which we are currently fundraising. We are deeply grateful to Glanbia, Idaho Heritage Trust, Idaho Community Foundation, Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation , Mary Bradoff Foundation, Northwest Farm Credit, Union Pacific Foundation, and more. Our local community and our many volunteers and supporters who are all part of this GREAT project have been our rock and we can’t thank you enough. We couldn’t do this without you!
We have received notice of a matching grant in the amount of $12,000 from the Idaho Heritage Trust. What that means is we have to match those funds in order to receive them. The foundations and trusts that we apply to look for community support in our applications in the way of donations, volunteering, and revenues from event attendance to show whether the community supports this project. Every dollar counts! We are reaching out to you, our local businesses and individuals, to make this happen. Your support is appreciated and needed to restore this jewel in our community for YOU. Because we are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, your donations may be tax deductible. Talk to your tax adviser. You can help us match this donation by sending your check to GREAT, Inc., P.O. Box 433, Gooding ID 83330 or calling Charmy LeaVell at (208) 539-0202 if you have any questions or want to volunteer. Stay excited – we’re making it happen!
Please Attend a City Meeting This Month
October 3, 2019 Urban Renewal Agency City Hall 9:00 am
October 3, 2019 Wood River RC&D Gooding Hotel Bed & Breakfast 6:00 pm
October 7, 2019 City Council Meeting City Hall 7:00 pm
October 9, 2019 Airport Advisory Commission Gooding Airport 7:00 pm
October 21, 2019 City Council Meeting City Hall 7:00 pm
THIS IS A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF GOODING
Email: councilmancolin@gmail.com
Website: www.goodingidaho.org
Location: 308 5th Avenue West, Gooding, ID, USA
Phone: 208-934-5669