Capitol Commission On Comeback Trail

After 93 years, the Idaho Capitol Commission may be coming back to life.

The board, created by the Legislature in 1905 to build a new Statehouse in Boise, would have a slightly different name - the State Capitol Commission. But the proposal to the Legislature on Thursday would have many of the same goals as its long-ago predecessor.

The old State Capitol Commission had authority to issue bonds, sign and negotiate contracts and approve architectural plans for a state capitol building. That resulted in completion of the central core of the present Statehouse in 1912 and of the east and west …

After 93 years, the Idaho Capitol Commission may be coming back to life.

The board, created by the Legislature in 1905 to build a new Statehouse in Boise, would have a slightly different name - the State Capitol Commission. But the proposal to the Legislature on Thursday would have many of the same goals as its long-ago predecessor.

The old State Capitol Commission had authority to issue bonds, sign and negotiate contracts and approve architectural plans for a state capitol building. That resulted in completion of the central core of the present Statehouse in 1912 and of the east and west wings in 1920.

The new commission would make long-range plans, hire a part-time architect for the Capitol building and supervise the new Capitol Endowment Fund to pay for upkeep, maintenance and enhancement of the building’s historic features.

The committee gave quick preliminary approval to a bill to create a commission of nine members.