Ada County Oks City Of Star, Idaho

Ada County commissioners have approved incorporation for a small, rural community on the county’s western edge, appointing a mayor and six city council members to begin the work of city government.

“They’ve got a rough road ahead of them,” Commissioner Roger Simmons said Wednesday. “There are an awful lot of things they have to do.”

For the new city of Star, that includes immediately hiring a city clerk, city treasurer and city attorney, developing a comprehensive land-use plan and getting insurance services.

In the next few months the council will have to find ways to provide building inspection, waste collection, planning and zoning, engineering, law enforcement and animal control services for the city.

Ada County will continue to provide some services, including law enforcement, in the interim.

The city does not collect property taxes yet and cannot for at least a year. It can collect a share of state liquor taxes and can develop service fees, such as for building permits, to cover city expenses in the meantime.

New Mayor Joe Watson said residents’ cooperation will be the key to tackling the upcoming problems.

“I think the biggest thing is to get the people of Star together,” Watson said.