Saundra McDavid

Mayor Bandy’s first State of the City speech was last week. During the speech he revealed that he had instructed the city staff not to use the term “flooding” but instead, to use “high water.” What’s even more ridiculous was the Idaho Statesman’s editorial board praising him for doing so. Reading the article sounded almost as if they were attempting to convince themselves they made the right decision in their endorsement of Bandy for Mayor. Then they criticized him for being shy and for not wanting to venture far from his office, qualities which are alarming for someone who is to be the representative of our city of Eagle. Not to mention the fact that during his speech Bandy forgot the name of the councilman that he had just appointed.

My suggestion for our new Mayor is to quit his efforts at spin, and work on addressing the concerns of the residents of our city. Mayor Bandy is responsible for approving those homes that have been built in our “high water” plain. So are Nancy Merrill and Stan Bastian (who are running for our State legislature.) Bandy made an interesting comment during the mayoral debates – that the homes in those areas did not “high water” because the topography did what it was supposed to do, and directed the “high water” water away from the residences. But at what cost? What he failed to address was the fact that we had many, many dump trucks filled with sand to protect those homes. I saw at least 15 of them lined along Eagle road near Floating-Feather during our “high water” last year. It was an impressive sight. An entire community working together to protect our homes from “high water.” Sand bagging in Eagle Idaho, because we couldn’t say no to a developer. When it happens again this year Bandy, Guerber, Merrill and Bastian need to be held accountable.

My grandfather lived near a river in St. Louis. It wasn’t like it is here in Eagle. In St. Louis you live near the river because that is where the inexpensive homes are. My grandfather was a World War II veteran with a purple heart. He didn’t own the land that he farmed in the 40’s and thus didn’t turn into a rich developer in the 80’s. Instead, he spent his later days in and out of veteran’s hospitals and lived in the “affordable” areas of the city. For some reason, in Eagle, we place more value on the homes that are more likely to flood. Back in the 80’s when my Grandfather woke up to water rushing around his bed and had to wait on his roof until someone rescued him, he was not thinking about the term his Mayor used for the situation. He was trying not to die that night. And in St. Louis when it floods, people often die. Last year, Eagle made the news because the casualties amounted to a few Koi who were washed away. However, old timers here remember the homes that line Eagle Road near Banbury with water up to the roof. It’s only a matter of time.

In the mean time, Mayor Bandy needs to re-think his frivolous treatment of the entire topic. If your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it is not going to cover “high water” either.