ISU President's House Info Fund
Donation protected
The price for Idaho State University transparency is $1235. Please help us learn about the costs behind the Servel House's estimated renovation costs ($750,000) and average annual maintenance, care, and operating costs ($31,000) as reported to the Idaho State Board of Education.
My family and I have been trying to understand the numbers in the recent proposal for the "purchase real property to replace the existing executive residence owned by the institution and to sell the existing residence." (ISU BAHR, 2014)
A recent Idaho Open Records Act, Idaho Code Section 9-337, et. seq request for the records was met with the following answer: "We are prepared to complete the process of locating the documents when a check or checks totaling $1,235.00, made payable to Idaho State University, are presented to General Counsel's Office." (General Counsel, David Alexander)
It was explained, and we do not argue that the information is extensive and requires significant time to gather. We also do not dispute that under state law, it is legal to charge for the costs of data gathering when the labor goes beyond 2 hours of labor.
We just thought it was information that would have been gathered in advance of a proposal to use Idaho State University reserve funds " ... at a cost of $560,000, plus all closing costs normally associated with the buyer, and up to an additional $100,000 for repairs, renovations and improvements; and further to authorize the Vice President for Finance and Administration to execute all necessary transaction documents for closing the purchase." (BAHR)
The Servel House would be sold as part of the deal.
An Idaho State Journal news release posted on November 21st, 2014, announcing the withdrawal of the proposal included the following statement: Idaho State University Officials have determined that although the business proposal is solid, the property proposal under consideration needs additional research and review. As a result, ISU won't be going forward with the proposal to the State Board of Education on Monday; however, the needs related to the important university functions held at the current facility still exist.
We believe we are, in effect, being asked to fund that research and review. We are willing to make the effort to raise the funds but want to publicly request that the documents gathered in this request be disseminated to those involved in decisions about the executive residence.
The $31,000 average maintenance costs certainly warrant further study. When we understand those costs, we can take a realistic look at solutions and options.
The statement also said: A committee consisting of representatives from the university's alumni, faculty, staff, students, as well as community leaders will be assisting with the public process and discussion of the possible solutions that would best fulfill the needs of the university.
My attempts to participate on the committee have been met with resistance and the "public process" spoken of in the statement has been reduced to an "internal university group and is not a public meeting" according to ISU Vice President for Advancement, Kent Tingey" in recent email communications.
We believe that a careful assessment of the past and current costs involved in keeping the president in the historic Servel House is necessary to informed decision-making in considering the home's future.
We are not leveling any accusations, questioning motives, or interested in personal attacks. We just want to understand the situation before letting go of this ISU landmark.
We request that the public discussion remain fact-based and free from name-calling an other incivility that occurs when people feel passionate about a subject. Solutions are possible with thoughtful and respectful discourse.
We are doing this because we believe the university exists to serve the needs of the students.
Please limit donations to the $1235 fee needed.
Servel House photo was posted on the Idaho State Journal website on November 21, 2014 http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/isu-hopes-to-purchase-new-house-for-its-president-state/article_35a88f3a-6f71-11e4-9ae0-f3b0ce9254d5.html
My family and I have been trying to understand the numbers in the recent proposal for the "purchase real property to replace the existing executive residence owned by the institution and to sell the existing residence." (ISU BAHR, 2014)
A recent Idaho Open Records Act, Idaho Code Section 9-337, et. seq request for the records was met with the following answer: "We are prepared to complete the process of locating the documents when a check or checks totaling $1,235.00, made payable to Idaho State University, are presented to General Counsel's Office." (General Counsel, David Alexander)
It was explained, and we do not argue that the information is extensive and requires significant time to gather. We also do not dispute that under state law, it is legal to charge for the costs of data gathering when the labor goes beyond 2 hours of labor.
We just thought it was information that would have been gathered in advance of a proposal to use Idaho State University reserve funds " ... at a cost of $560,000, plus all closing costs normally associated with the buyer, and up to an additional $100,000 for repairs, renovations and improvements; and further to authorize the Vice President for Finance and Administration to execute all necessary transaction documents for closing the purchase." (BAHR)
The Servel House would be sold as part of the deal.
An Idaho State Journal news release posted on November 21st, 2014, announcing the withdrawal of the proposal included the following statement: Idaho State University Officials have determined that although the business proposal is solid, the property proposal under consideration needs additional research and review. As a result, ISU won't be going forward with the proposal to the State Board of Education on Monday; however, the needs related to the important university functions held at the current facility still exist.
We believe we are, in effect, being asked to fund that research and review. We are willing to make the effort to raise the funds but want to publicly request that the documents gathered in this request be disseminated to those involved in decisions about the executive residence.
The $31,000 average maintenance costs certainly warrant further study. When we understand those costs, we can take a realistic look at solutions and options.
The statement also said: A committee consisting of representatives from the university's alumni, faculty, staff, students, as well as community leaders will be assisting with the public process and discussion of the possible solutions that would best fulfill the needs of the university.
My attempts to participate on the committee have been met with resistance and the "public process" spoken of in the statement has been reduced to an "internal university group and is not a public meeting" according to ISU Vice President for Advancement, Kent Tingey" in recent email communications.
We believe that a careful assessment of the past and current costs involved in keeping the president in the historic Servel House is necessary to informed decision-making in considering the home's future.
We are not leveling any accusations, questioning motives, or interested in personal attacks. We just want to understand the situation before letting go of this ISU landmark.
We request that the public discussion remain fact-based and free from name-calling an other incivility that occurs when people feel passionate about a subject. Solutions are possible with thoughtful and respectful discourse.
We are doing this because we believe the university exists to serve the needs of the students.
Please limit donations to the $1235 fee needed.
Servel House photo was posted on the Idaho State Journal website on November 21, 2014 http://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/isu-hopes-to-purchase-new-house-for-its-president-state/article_35a88f3a-6f71-11e4-9ae0-f3b0ce9254d5.html
Organizer
Rhonda Schondel D'Amico
Organizer
Pocatello, ID