Last week we learned that the state of Idaho's legal attack on our property rights had been successful, rights held since 1921. All we did was something all our neighbors have done successfully. There is nothing unique about us or our property. We applied for a permit to place a dock on our family property. My father had used his retirement savings with the intention of creating a place to retire to, and it was our intention that it become a place for our family to come together.
Unfortunately, out of the blue, and without any warning, the state of Idaho started a legal action against us to strip us of our property rights, rights held for 86 years. No one contacted us to discuss anything. We found out by getting a phone call from a government official to appear at a hearing in seven days. When we called another state employee to find out what had happened, he told us, "this has to stop somewhere, and you are unfortunate in being a test case". We tried to get the hearing postponed because we could not find an attorney to represent us on such short notice, but the Idaho attorney general in Boise would not accept our request unless we waived our rights.
To this day, we don't know what it is we have done that has required so much cost and effort from this administration to strip us of our property rights. And, we don't know what it is that has to stop, as the state employee said to us.
We found an attorney and hired him because the state said we needed to, and we spent a lot of money trying to defend ourselves, to no avail. We asked Governor Otter for help, and though he is on the governing body that could stop this attack against us, he supported the attack by doing nothing. Darrell Manning, the Transportation Department Director, and George Bacon, the Department of Lands Director, wrote specifically against us and directed Attorney General Lawrence Wasden in his attack against us from Boise. Coeur d'Alene District 1 Transportation Director Jim Coleman also supported the action against us.
When we describe all this opposition, and efforts against us, one might think we were criminals and a danger to the state. We are just an Idaho family, lifelong Republicans, who work, send children to school, pay taxes, go to church, and desire to have a place to get together and rest.
Unfortunately, it is a very sad and painful day for us. A family dream has been extinguished. We have learned a valuable lesson by direct experience with this government, one who we thought respected property rights. As a very wise person once said, "I can't hear your words, your actions are too loud".
We hope others don't have the same fate we do. That is why we write to you, and speak to others in the many networks we belong to. We would encourage others in Idaho to please be very careful who they support. And, please be very careful where their taxes go, and what budgets are approved in far away Boise for the Transportation Department, Department of Lands, and the Attorney General's office. Their taxes might be used against them, and their own property rights could be at stake one day. As we learned, when the government decides to exercise its power against you, using your own taxes to intimidate you, you will find yourself virtually helpless, as we did. These officials can simply use their power to do as they want, and they are not held accountable as we ordinary citizens are except when it comes time to vote. Our hope is that if this letter helps anyone not suffer what we have at the hands of Governor Otter and his administration, and local Idaho state government officials, then at least some good will have come of our loss. We pray for others who may suffer a similar painful plight.
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