Letters to the Editor
ETHANOLFacts to consider when filling up the gas tankWhile debate continues over how much ethanol can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, GM touts flex fuel vehicles which can run on E85 (85 percent ethanol) and local stations promote their E10 (10 percent ethanol). Both appeal to our sense of environmental and social responsibility.Missing in the ethanol discussion is important factual information consumers should consider when filling their tanks.The U.S. Department of Energy tells us that one gallon of regular gasoline contains 115,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) of energy while one gallon of ethanol contains 76,000 BTUs or 66 percent less energy than gas.Most ethanol mixtures sold in Idaho contain 10 percent ethanol (E10). Therefore a vehicle that gets 20 miles per gallon (mpg) on gasoline will get 19.3 mpg on E10.If you buy a flex fuel vehicle that gets 20 mpg on regular gas, and you burn E85, you will get 14.2 mpg.On Oct. 27, the cheapest regular gasoline in Boise was $2.76. The only local stations selling ethanol were charging $2.89 for E10 and $2.46 for E85.If your vehicle gets 20 mpg on gasoline, a round trip to Twin Falls (256 miles) will cost you $35.33 (13.8 cents per mile). On E10 your trip would cost $38.33 (14.9 cents per mile). On E85 your trip would cost $44.34 (17.3 cents per mile).WILLIAM GOODNIGHT, BoiseROAD REPAIRSGet money for road repairs from fuel and tire sales taxIt is obvious that our roads require repair and expansion. Those in charge say that additional taxes must be generated. The fair and equitable way to accomplish this is to raise the money from those of us who use the roads.We should put the costs on the fuel and tires purchased. This is a fair measurement, putting the burden on those of us who create the needs and added costs.Further, the use of studded tires should be prohibited. Whereas the studs do great damage to the road surface when not on ice. There are other methods of enhancing traction on winter roads such as sipping, tractionizing, etc.ERNEST D. JUDD, WeiserSPORTSLocal TV stations have pathetic baseball coverageIn your Oct. 25 story, “Boise baseball fans high on the Rockies,” you failed to mention the lack of interest in the success of the Rockies by the local media. For example, Channel 7 showed the score of game 3 of the NLCS and some NFL football scores before going to commercial break, then spent the rest of the “sports” broadcast talking about the BSU game, no additional highlights of baseball or professional football. I guess it should have been the “sport” broadcast. That same night Channel 6 came back from commercial break after talking about the BSU game, and with the attitude of “after the BSU game there really isn’t anything to report but I will talk about it anyway,” they spent 30 seconds on highlights of the Rockies game and another 45 seconds to one minute talking about the pro football games played that day.The lack of national coverage by local broadcast networks is pathetic. I didn’t bothered to watch local coverage during the series because I consider what they report now to be “fair weather” reporting. I am not the only one who feels this way. This Valley is filled with people from all over this country. Please report what is going on in the rest of the country.KEN LEWIS, MeridianEAGLE ELECTIONSStop turning Eagle into Idaho’s 2nd largest cityAfter reading the article in the Statesman pertaining to Eagle’s growth, I realize the voice of the people has fallen on deaf ears again. After record voter turnout, city officials are ignoring the cries for change by voting on a development agreement with M3 before they leave office. The current M3 plan calls for 8,160 houses and a population increase of 32,000 people. If we look at Eagle’s long-term plans of 20,000 houses in the Foothills, an increase of 80,000 people (based on four people per house) is estimated.Do we want our small town to grow to a city of 100,000 people? Do we want the financial responsibility associated with this kind of growth? Tax revenue increase will be consumed by new larger buildings to house additional personnel, a larger police department with additional cars, city maintenance facility including trucks, graders, backhoes, snow removal equipment and personnel to operate and maintain this equipment.City officials are also purchasing privately owned Eagle Water Company, citing that we need to protect this valuable resource, pumping our water to the Foothills is not how I would protect this resource.If it is our goal to become Idaho’s second largest city, then we are on the right track.CRAIG BARKER, EagleCurrent council should hold off on decisionsAs an Eagle resident, I ask that the council please hold off on any final decisions concerning the Foothills project and the purchase of Eagle water.As you can see from the election results our city is unfortunately in turmoil. The residents are very torn on the direction this city is headed. This city should be headed in the direction that the majority of the residents want, not based on the council’s agenda without consideration of the people of Eagle - the people that trusted them to run this city. The City Council says they can’t wait on making a decision regarding the Foothills and that the city could face litigation if the city decided to wait. The Statesman stated that Bill Brownlee said “We certainly don’t want to annex into a city that doesn’t want us.” If that statement is true then I’m sure they wouldn’t mind waiting for the newly elected officials to be a part of that decision.We don’t know what the voters will say on Dec. 4. If the council really cares about the residents of Eagle, they should wait until the mayoral vote is counted and then they’ll know what the majority of Eagle residents want.MELISSA BARKER, EagleUNITED WATERCustomers should not pay extra for monthly billingI would like to thank The Idaho Statesman for publishing the correct Web site for United Water customers to comment on a proposed $1.12 million increase in revenue to convert water bills to monthly billing. A letter detailing the proposed increase was included with my most recent bill and the Web site is incorrect. I was informed by United Water a corrected letter cannot be sent out to customers. I fortunately kept the article from The Idaho Statesman, and if anyone feels that customers should not foot the bill for converting to monthly billing - the correct Web site for the Idaho Public Utilities Commission is www.puc.idaho.gov and click on “Comments %26 Questions.” Fill in case number UWI-W-07-04 and enter your comments. Jan. 8 deadline for comments.CATHERINE SANSOTTA, BoiseLARRY CRAIGCan’t trust him anymoreLarry Craig tried to hide his arrest, tried to change his plea, broke his promise to resign. Should we trust him to continue representing us? I’m not seeing much integrity there!JOHN WOODWARD, BoiseAnything goes by ACLU standardsThe ACLU appears to be spending time and resources in seeking civil rights for solicitation within restrooms in America. Deserving or not, Larry Craig, who has consistently voted to deny civil liberties, is one such individual. With the ACLU defending Sen. Craig, who is protecting you from Sen. Craig? They would have you believe that the senator was merely displaying a form of expression, hence, considered free speech. Peering, gesturing, and footsie from one stall to another is taken for granted and without reservation.Why have doors at all in public restrooms? Forget your right to privacy, anything goes by ACLU standards. A sign prohibiting such behavior, rather than a random sting operation, would suffice in preventing such perversion. If minors are present, they need merely close their eyes. Quoting Voltaire, “those who would make you believe such absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”LARRY POLSKY, Boise
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