Sunday afternoon Cathy and I decided to go for a drive just to see what we could find. We headed out through Annex and flipped a coin to go right or left when we got to Highway 201. The coin was heads, so we went right. As most of you know, there isn’t a lot to see or do going that direction, at least for quite a while.
When we got to Farewell Bend we flipped the coin again, went right again, and headed toward the railroad town of Huntington. However, just off the exit we noticed an Oregon Trail sign with an arrow. This time we didn’t flip a coin to see what to do. We knew the picking would be slim so we took the opportunity when it presented itself.
We crossed back over the freeway and headed up the hill on a gravel road. Eventually we came to a sign on the right on top of a knoll. There was something a path up to the sign. It turns out the path was the Oregon Trail. We could walk along and follow the Trail for quite a ways, but since we were in flip flops, chose to turn around sooner rather than later. The sign showed a map of the trail from Fort Boise down by Parma up through Baker City. There were also diary entries from emigrants about their experience when they said “farewell” to the Snake River and headed toward the Columbia.
This didn’t count as one of our most exciting experiences, but it was a nice little history lesson for a Sunday afternoon.
Moving on to another subject, economically we at the City are beginning to brace for tighter times. As you are obviously aware, prices are higher and money is not stretching as far. Just this morning, Pat Malay from the Street Department was telling me that that crack sealer for the streets that cost $21,000 last year, cost $45,000 this year for the same amount. These kinds of increases force us to prioritize on a lot of hard choices.
Also, as a community, when the economy is tighter, it becomes more important than ever to support our local businesses. The local business owners have invested their wealth, time, and talents to provide goods and services for your convenience and to make Weiser a better place to live, work, and play. Take a second to think about the goods and services you use that you take for granted and what life would be like if these goods and services were not available. We hardly think about such things as the ability to pop down to the corner C-store or the grocery store to get milk, or the ability to go to the hardware store to get what you need for a repair, or the ability to have lunch, and to have a choice of what type of lunch. There isn’t room in this article to list even half of the goods and services that are available locally.
During tight times, local businesses feel the pinch just as tightly as you do and if we want those businesses to be here when it is convenient for us, we must be there for the businesses when it is not so convenient.
Besides, have you ever taken a look at all that is offered here in Weiser. I have lived in towns both larger and smaller than Weiser and Weiser has a lot to offer!
So, when you are out and about outside of Weiser, rather than going ahead and picking up items that can be purchased here, consider holding off until you get back. Or rather than going straight to Amazon, to buy what you need or want, take a look here before you buy. Supporting local business is part of being a community and being community is what makes Weiser a great place to live, work, and play.
As for City news this week, I just received a call from Ken Anderson from the Recreation Department. The City Pool just received its second inspection for the year from Southwest District Health. Ken was told that the Weiser City Pool is the best- looking, best kept pool in the District. Thank You Ken and lifeguard staff for making the City Pool something we can enjoy and be proud of.
Well, that’s it for this week. Thank you for making Weiser the community that it is!

I hope everyone had a fun and eventful 4th of July weekend! It’s a great time to get together and celebrate our Great Country’s Birthday.
I had to sit this one out as I came down sick last week and am just getting back to the office today. So, Cathy and I just laid low. It was the first time we have missed the fireworks and the festivities. From what I understand the Rock the Park and the fireworks display were particularly good this year!
There were many other events going on this weekend, and I want to say THANK YOU! to all of the organizations and individuals who take the time and effort to put these events together and make them work. Without you, Weiser would just be a place to live and shop. You make it so much more!!!
Also, I want to say THANK YOU! to those of you who come and attend these events. Sharing in experiences is what makes us a community and makes Weiser such a great place to live, work, and play!
Switching gears, I would like to talk about sidewalks for a little bit. One of the things I have learned in serving on the hospital board is the importance of improving the health of the overall community, not just treating people’s condition when they come through the door. We tend to lead better and happier lives when we do things that keep us well rather than just treat problems as they arise. Naturally, staying active promotes wellness and walking is an easy pleasant way of staying active.
However, as most of us are painfully aware, in many parts of town the sidewalk situation is one that could use some serious consideration. As you know, many of our sidewalks are as old as the town. Old construction methods, wear and tear, and certain types of trees, whose roots tend to lift the ground, have not been kind to our sidewalks.
I would love to say that they City has the means and wherewithal to simply go in and repair or replace existing sidewalks. However, in Idaho, even though the sidewalks are legally part of the street right-of-way, by law, the responsibility for upkeep is on the homeowner. To complicate things further, the Idaho State Constitution specifically prohibits using public funds from being used to assist businesses and individuals with improvements, repairs, or investment to their property for their benefit.
Outside grant funds can be used to improve sidewalks, but finding these funds except for specialized projects is difficult do, to say the least. Unfortunately, many homeowners may have a hard time justifying the sizable one-time cost of sidewalk improvement without attractive financing available.
So, even though sidewalks have been on my mind since getting into office, solutions have been a bit difficult to come by.
However, I have been checking into a different type of funding that would allow homeowners who need or would like to make improvement to their sidewalks to be able to do so over time with something called a Local Improvement District or LID. The idea is that property owners agree to have improvements made which can be contracted through the City. A bond is issued to pay for the contracting and services. The bond has a lower interest rate than a home-equity line or other type of personal financing because it is considered a public debt. The payment is added to the real estate taxes to be repaid over a 10-year period (maybe longer, still checking on this one). What this does, is allow the property owner the advantage of the perks public financing and still stay within what Idaho law allows.
Part of what makes this program so attractive is that the homeowner is able to work individually with the contractor for what improvements the homeowner specifically wants and/or needs on the property. This is not a one-size-fits-all, take-it-or-leave-it, everybody-gets-the-same thing solution. The individual project is tailored to the homeowner’s needs and desires. This can include curb and gutter and maybe even driveways. Before any work is done a firm bid is given to the property owners by the contractor before the homeowner makes the final decision. This leaves the owner in control of the scope of the project, the cost, and the outcome.
There are quite a few more steps to go before an LID would or could be in place. However, I just wanted you to know what my thinking is and the research that has been going on. Hopefully, with the City Council’s blessing and your support, we can make Weiser and even better place to go for a nice walk.

Wow! It is already the end of June and the year is half over! The year is going so fast that Christmas will be here before you know it! Guess I’d better get shopping now.
Last week, I attended sessions of the Association of Idaho Cities annual conference in Boise. It was great to meet with other Mayors, City Council Members, and city staff from all over the state. The conference was informative on a number of issues and opportunities that affect us all. Over the next year, I will be working to apply what was learned.
However, one piece of information that reminded me to be thankful came from visiting with other “part-time” mayors. I am thankful for Weiser’s city workers and staff. Visiting with other mayors, I found that they often try to duck into the office for just a few minutes and don’t leave until hours later due to the need to solve problems that have come up. Due to Weiser’s dedicated staff, conscientious department heads, and the hard-working city crews, as your mayor, there are very few times that your concerns reach my desk before they have already been addressed and remedied. For that I am thankful, because it allows me to focus on other matters. However, that being said, if for some reason, you do not believe your concerns are being met, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or your City Council members.
Getting back to the time of year, next Monday is the 4th of July, which will make a nice 3-day weekend for many of us. I hope you have a great day celebrating! John Adams, the second U.S. President made the statement at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed that the 4th of July would become an annual holiday with parades, fireworks, family picnics and gatherings. How right he was.
At 11:00 a.m. the Veterans will have a march from the Train Station to Veteran’s Park on State Street. In the evening at about 10:30, Bill Taylor and Pete Nye, with the help of Weiser Rural Fire Department, will be setting off the fireworks display from the bare ground at the upper end of State Street by the cemetery.
I would like to give a big THANK YOU! to all of the individuals and organizations (ad hoc and otherwise) who helped raise funds for this year’s fireworks! Your Community is Grateful!
Speaking of fireworks, I would like to remind those who have set off aerial or exploding fireworks in the past that under City Code, these are illegal. Last year, due to fireworks, there were shrubs set on fire, a fire on the east side of the cemetery (not caused be the City’s display), and then another huge fire on Chicken Hill which involved the loss of a residence.
Please be responsible with your celebration this year. If you would like to know more about which fireworks do no comply with City Code, the list can be found on the City’s website under Documents, City Code, Section 5-4-2. Have fun celebrating!
The Fiddle Festival appeared to go well last week. Thank You to the Fiddle Festival Committee for another year of hard work organizing this event.
Memorial Park has been mowed and watered and is in the process of recovering from the vender’s booths and the entertainment in the park.
One item that needs mentioning however, is the vandalism of the women’s restroom on the east side of Memorial Park. Full water bottles were shoved into the toilets. Then all of the available paper towels and toilet paper were packed in around the bottles. Fortunately, there was no permanent damage to the fixtures, but it did deprive others that needed to use the facilities from doing so. These restrooms are provided for everyone’s use and are especially needed during such times as the Fiddle Festival and sporting events. For whoever was responsible for this reprehensible behavior, please think of others before you act in the future. For those who may have information on this incident, if you would please contact the Weiser City Police it would be greatly appreciated.
Well, that’s it for this week! Hope you have a good one and Enjoy the Fourth!

Cathy and I took a week off last week to drive a portion of the Lincoln Highway. For those who may not know, the Lincoln Highway was the first coast-to-coast highway across the U.S. It extended from New York to San Francisco. Construction started in 1914 with private funding provided by the auto industry and other interested parties.
Cathy and I started last year in San Francisco, but only made it Stockton because Cathy found too many interesting things to do in Frisco. This year we went from Stockton and made it all the way to Fernley, Nevada. Again, too many fun and fascinating things to see and do along the way. (It may take us a while to get all the way to New York.) Oh Well.
On to the things I should be writing about, Timbra Long from the Library wants you to know that the annual book sale will be held during the Fiddle Festival next week. This is where the library cleans out their book inventory to make room for new editions. The books are typically very reasonably priced.
The book sale proceeds go to the Friends of the Library to pay for the things that cannot be squeezed out of the Library budget, such as refreshments at the Speakers Series, assisting with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs, the summer reading program, the movie nights, etc.
The Friends of the Library meet the first Wednesday of each month. They are always looking for new members. If you would like to join, just contact the president Nichole Sharp at Literary Pause on State Street.
So, getting back on topic, if you enjoy reading and browsing for books, visit the library during Fiddle Week to find that hidden gem, old favorite, or favorite author for your home collection. Hope to see you there with an armload of books!
In City news this week, Bill Taylor from the Water Department would again like to let those of you with sprinkler systems to know that backflow testing needs to done to ensure that water does not drain back into the water supply once the sprinklers are turned off.
There are about eighty households that still have not completed this annual test. The Water Department is delivering notices now giving 10 days from the time of notice to have the backflow tests completed. If the test is not completed within the 10 days, the Water Department will have no choice but to turn the water off, which would not just apply to the sprinkler system. It would also turn off water to the house. So, if you have not yet done so, please do so immediately. Given the limited number of individuals and businesses that provide this service and the large number of households that need the tests completed, it would be prudent to make the contact as soon as possible.
On another note, Bill Taylor is also continuing to seek donations for fireworks. The total cost for the 4th of July and Christmas Parade fireworks is estimated at $10,000. The 4th of July fireworks are already here and just need to be paid for. So far, there has been $4,911 raised with a couple of fundraisers in the works to add to the total. So, if you love the fireworks and have the means to do so, please drop a check off at the city so this great semi-annual Weiser tradition can continue.
Well, that’s it for this week. Hope to see you next week at the Library and the Fiddle Festival!

Well, another Senior Class has graduated from Weiser High School. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2022! If the Senior’s that I have been fortunate enough to have contact with are any indication, this is a great group of young adults who will be making Weiser proud as they go about building their lives. I hope that each of you have wonderful fulfilling lives as you face the inevitable challenges of life with courage and resolve.
Speaking of graduation, Wayne Wallace from your Electrical Department would like to remind everyone who was celebrating this weekend to please not release your mylar balloons into the heavens. They don’t seem to get there. Instead, they end up in fields, water ways, and most importantly to Wayne, power lines where they can cause shorts and outages. So, please have fun popping them with a knife, or using the helium to talk funny, or whatever, but please do not take them outside to watch them go out of sight.
In City news this week, Ken Anderson from the Recreation Department wants to let everyone know that the swimming pool is tentatively set to open on Tuesday, May 31st. There were a couple of pipes in the dressing rooms that did not get drained completely last fall and had burst over the winter. Ken and David Loos, the Building Inspector, are working hard to get the pipes and a few other issues taken care of before the opening so that the pool can be used as soon as possible. Again, the tentative opening date is Tuesday, May 31st.
The swimming pool will be open the first week on the following schedule:
7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Morning Water Aerobics
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Swim Team
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Open Swimming
Closed after 5 p.m. for Lifeguard Training
Closed for the first Saturday, also for Lifeguard Training.
After the first week, the schedule will be adjusted to include:
5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Evening Water Aerobics
6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open Swimming
And open Monday through Saturday with the possibility of Sundays depending on demand and the number of life guards.
If you have any questions regarding the pool, its hours, fees, etc., please call the Recreation Department at 208-414-0301. Hope you have a great summer enjoying Weiser’s Swimming Pool! Weiser is fortunate to have such a great facility when many other communities our size or larger have had to close due to expenses!
Also, the City and Indianhead Fly Fishing members will be having the annual Pond Cleanup on June 3rd. The clean-up is scheduled each year the week before the annual Idaho Fish and Game Department’s “Free Fishing” day. The pond will be stocked, spruced-up, and ready to go for all of the young fishermen who show up the following week.
The clean-up activities will start at 8 a.m. and go until noon when there will be a barbeque for everyone who shows up. From what I understand, Steve Fenske and the kids from Arrow Heart will also be there to help!
So, on Friday June 3rd come on out with your gloves, trimmers, and any other appropriate equipment to help with the pond. It is a great time to work with other people and to help make Weiser the great place to live that it is.
Well, that’s it for this week. See you at the pond!