HAYDEN: Fees lead to stunted growth

Having been a builder in Kootenai County since 1990, I was taken back by the remarks made by Mr. Chatwin, the City Administrator of Hayden. I may not have come in to say your fees are too high but I stopped building in Hayden in 2007 when you started these OUTRAGEOUS fee increases. You quoted we are a "little higher," Mr Chatwin; you are the HIGHEST in the state.

You also said "Who's going to pay for the growth?" and "Developers, this is your business, you're doing this, you pay for it." I guess you do not understand the part of the Idaho Statute 67-8202(4) that states we are to pay only a PROPORTIONATE share. Have you done your studies as required by the bill passed in 1992 HB 804 Title 67 Chapter 82? Is your Comprehensive Plan, Capital Improvement Plan, and Impact Fee Ordinance in place as required by law? I hope so because it looks like you are in the spotlight now.

Also, your ARROGANT ATTITUDE "builders just need to work with it" is going to come back and bite you real soon. It looks to me that you want NO GROWTH in Hayden. Moratorium maybe? Oh, and by the way, how is it working out for you in terms of new permits? That's what I thought, none.

TIM TIMMINS

Hayden