11/18/09

It's been nearly three weeks since petition efforts began to disestablish the Business Improvement District. Four downtown businesses are actively trying to gather signatures that equal to the majority or more than 50% of the dues based on overall property values within the BID.

BID Treasurer and local business owner, Dan Brizee said "They have to collect that many signatures to go in front of the city council to ask the city council to disband."

According to Scott Andrus of Escape Hair Salon, they're aiming for $92,000 to $95,000 in assessed evaluation signatures. So far they've collected signatures that equal about $55,000.

Andrus says, "We need to get the total assessed evaluation of the entire B.I.D. from the City of Twin Falls before we actually know what our goal would be and as of yet, we've yet to receive that from the City of Twin Falls."

But the businesses who've signed the petition and are saying 'no' to the BID feel that they're not receiving anything back for what they're paying.

Brizee said, "Obviously there's been some frustration with people that are involved with the B.I.D. over the last few years. I think the current group, the current directors are working real hard to try and make a difference in Twin Falls, but things don't happen overnight either."

Andrus says, "I have a great deal of respect for everyone involved in the Board of B.I.D. Directors, they put in a generous amount of time. I respect the people at City Hall, I understand this is a bureaucratic nightmare for them and I apologize for that, but so many of us just want out."