Huckleberries Hears That Spen-Sah …

… is trying to stir things up re: the Kroc Center. And I quote insider info passed along to department heads by City Administrator Wendy Gabriel:

“I received a call today from Captain Clark Rollins of the Idaho State Police. He advised that he received a call from a Larry Spencer asking that an investigation be conducted regarding the City’s ‘payment to the Salvation Army’ of $3 million. He mentioned separation of church and state. Captain Rollins was just providing a heads up that in his return call to Larry Spencer, he would advise him that his complaint is civil in nature, and not criminal, and so no investigation would be conducted. Mike Gridley’s earlier email to Jim Hollingsworth provides a very nice and easily understandable explanation of our agreements.”

Below: Exchange between City Attorney Mike Gridley and citizen Jim Hollingsworth:

Jim Hollingworth: Mike, In light of the fact that the City is donating 3,000,000 to the Salvation Army Kroc Center, a church, what legal precedent is there for doing so? I wonder why the ACLU has not stepped in to stop this. I see no problem with what you are doing, but it does seem like a double standard, to me.

Mike Gridley: Hi Jim: It’s not a donation to a church. The City has agreed to partner with the Parks Foundation (private 501-c-3 foundation) to provide funding to create a buildable site for the Kroc Community center. In return the City gets a 25 year agreement that its citizens will have access to a (world-class) recreational facility. The agreement specifically prohibits using any City funds for the promotion of religion and prohibits discrimination or religious indoctrination. A simplified example of what we are doing would be if we rented a church basement for a public meeting. We are paying money in exchange for the non-religious use of building space. This is clearly allowed by the Constitution. There is no Constitutional prohibition on government entering into secular, arms-length deals with religious organizations for the benefit of its citizens. I have talked with Jack Van Valkenburgh, Executive Director of the Idaho ACLU, and he has not expressed any concerns. We believe that our partnership with the Parks Foundation and the support of the Kroc Community center is legal and a great way to leverage public funds for the benefit of our citizens. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks for your support of this once in a lifetime project.

DFO: Frankly, I’m tired of Spencer and far-right end of the local Republican superstructure trying to stop something as beneficial as a Kroc Center, which is worth $60M (including endowment), for what amounts to an in-kind donation of a coupla million bucks. Talk about straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Don’t you guys have something better to do — like electing ultraconservative commissioners to tear down Bonner County? This city has needed a community center for 22 years. It has a chance to get an incredible facility. And you guys are stirring things up for what amounts to a pittance? Are you that anal? Go away.