Ports in the Desert

Maybe there is something to Al Gore’s global warming and rising sea levels.  Idaho is ready for high water.   It was discovered in Idaho law that each incorporated city and county will have a Port Authority by a simply voting on a resolution based on their belief that the citizens are supportive of such action.

  70-2203. Establishment and abolishment. (1) There is hereby created in each county and incorporated city an independent public body, corporate and politic, to be known as an intermodal commerce authority.

In Idaho law, it’s called an Intermodal Commerce Authority, but it’s in the section of law titled, WATERCOURSES AND PORT DISTRICTS.  It is described this way: 

  70-2201. County-based or city-based intermodal commerce authority authorized.  A county-based or city-based intermodal commerce authority, hereinafter referred to as the intermodal authority, is hereby authorized to acquire, construct, maintain, operate, develop and regulate rail, truck, and other on-land transfer and terminal facilities, buildings, warehouses and storage facilities, manufacturing, industrial and economic development facilities and services, reasonably incident to a modern, efficient and competitive land-based port, and may be established according to this chapter in any county or incorporated city.

What a concept right?   A port in the middle of the desert – not the middle actually, southern Idaho is the northern edge of the Great Basin Desert.   I’ll have to get some of those topographical maps to figure out where to buy some land so that when the Great Basin floods, I’ll have some beach front property.  Woo Hoo!  I think I’ll go buy an umbrella and beach ball so I’ll be ready!

In previous research on the unusual activities going on in Boise and the surrounding cities, I discovered that the Mayors of Boise, Garden City, Meridian, Parma, Eagle, Star, Caldwell and Nampa signed a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” with Ada and Canyon County Commissioners.  The agreement was actually incorporation papers for a 501-C3 corporation. 

It’s a long and winding road J how we get to Ports and Port Authorities in Idaho but I think we can be pretty sure that the so-called Gentlemen’s Agreement is the beginning move towards creating a Metropolitan Regional Governing Association aka Port Authority.  You can’t call it government because they have private sector partners in this scheme.  

Just out of curiosity, last week I made a trip to the law library to look up Admiralty Law because we don’t think much about maritime issues in the desert.  We should though because it’s going to become a very hot topic when the people in Idaho cities find out they are living in Port Districts.  We all know that the Captain is God on a ship – and that level of authority seems to carry forward to land as it pertains to the management of Ports (i.e. Port Authorities). 

Another section in Idaho’s law on Intermodal Commerce Authority (Port Authority) has to do with policing of the port:

 70-1608. Jurisdiction of other public bodies. No municipal corporation, political subdivision or other public body or agency of this state shall have jurisdiction over port operations, port facilities, port-owned property, port services or other matters under port district regulation or operation. Notwithstanding the above provisions, the general police regulations, building codes, fire codes, health and sanitation regulations, fuel storage regulations, including the inspection and control provisions thereof, and any and all other such regulatory codes that are in force within the limits of any city or county shall, except where the subject matter is subject to state or federal regulations, be applicable to such operations, facilities, property, services or other matters under port district regulation or operation when any such are situated or conducted within the limits of any city or county.

They don’t need to worry about building codes, fire codes, etc., because this section of law took care of that:   

 Idaho Statutes Title 39, Chapter 41, Section 39-4116

Adopted:

International Building Code

International Residential Code

International Energy Conservation Code

Local governments may CONTRACT with a public or private entity to administer the building codes. 

Now who do you suppose they had in mind to administer the International Building and Energy Conservation Codes?     Could it be the Port Authority maybe?     That would pretty much give them total control over all persons and activities in a Port District – including property not owned by the Port District.  

Another section in Idaho law: 

70-2206. General powers of a county-based or city-based intermodal commerce authority. An intermodal authority shall have the powers provided to it by a local county or city governing body including:

(1)  Have perpetual succession unless abolished as provided in this chapter;

(2)  Sue and be sued;

(3)  Have a seal;

(4)  Execute contracts and other instruments and take other action that may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapter;

(5)     Acquire any land or interest in land. All land and other property and privileges acquired and used by or on behalf of any intermodal authority must be used for intermodal authority purposes. The property of an intermodal authority acquired or held for the purposes of this chapter is declared to be public property used for essential public and governmental purposes and, effective the date an intermodal authority acquires title to such property, it shall be exempt from all taxes of the municipality, the county, the state or any political subdivision thereof; provided, that such tax exemption shall terminate when the authority sells or otherwise disposes of such property for development to a purchaser that is not a public body entitled to tax exemption with respect to such property. As specified in this chapter, a port authority may pledge, lease, sell, or mortgage all or any part of its facilities to secure bonds or for other financing purposes;

 (8)  Provide financial and other support to corporations or other business entities or organizations under the provisions of Idaho law, whose purpose is to promote, stimulate, develop and advance the economic development and prosperity of its jurisdiction and of the state and its citizens by stimulating, assisting in, and supporting the growth of all kinds of economic activity, including the creation, expansion, modernization, retention, and relocation of new and existing businesses and industry in the state, all of which will tend to promote business development, maintain the economic stability and prosperity of the state, and thus provide maximum opportunities for employment and improvement in the standards of living of citizens of the state.

Is that great or WHAT?    They can help their friends – and put their enemies out of business.  I wonder how you get into this exclusive Port Authority Club.   They could rule the world with this kind of power – and they will if citizens don’t make the effort to understand this scheme and put a stop to it. 

Restore the Republic. 

Vicky Davis
October 23, 2011