As with many things on this earth, we are willing to trade long term dollars for shortsighted today dollars. This is also, I think, the situation with Democrat Gulch. You are willing to make your 1.9, 2.4, or 7.6 who cares? millions today with some cute sexy radiant heat flooring for yet another development of stuff storage boxes, when, in reality, the housing market has slumped and we have more than enough houses for sale already built. Maybe a suggestion for your ears, if you are willing to hear. Rather than houses in your "community," perhaps we fill that little existing agriculture area with radiant heat greenhouses that supply our valley with fruits, vegetables, and some local long term employment for the next fifty or sixty years.
In this day and age of uncreative and space wasting housing developments, perhaps it's time we don't worry about how many today dollars we can make, and start thinking a little longer towards the future. Another suggestion, if that one doesn't satisfy, is donate some of your geothermal water to the new senior center, so they can operate and maintain a public pool, allowing them some long term income while giving the valley a nice place to go and soak.
Your hopes that DEQ will determine the water unsafe for human interaction other than radiant flooring can be stabled by the information that Miracle Hot Springs in Hagerman, Idaho, adjusts its water quality minimally, to make it soakable for humans. And they operate a MUCH appreciated business in their neck of the woods.
From what I've noticed so far, today's green solutions are more or less novelty items that just add price to the project, and that if we really wanted to do our part on this planet, we would start with our consciousness, and not worry so much about our pocketbooks. City of Hailey and beyond, Fight for your geothermal water. It is a rare and precious gem that cannot be replaced for the specialness of a few.
Scott Emerson
Wood River Valley
