I was amused recently when a boatload of nuns pulled up to the public dock in Harrison. Another nun riding shotgun on a Jet Ski followed them. I noted that the life jacket of the "sole Sister" was snugly fitted, so I asked my better half Deena if she thought the vest was, well, a little "habit" forming. Deena's blank stare indicated to me that I should refrain from any further questions.

Questioning economic development, however, is a good thing. Those involved with urban renewal know the only way to explain the complex issues is to field questions and comments from the public. Sometimes, however, articles appear which only enflame the discussion.

Such a case occurred earlier this month when Erik Makrush from a group known as the Idaho Freedom Foundation wrote a press release about the Dover Urban Renewal Agency (DURA). As I've noted Dover is a small town of about 500 people near Sandpoint. The IFF release states "If DURA did not exist and Dover Bay Development would have developed on its own, residents would be paying 50 percent LESS in taxes than they are each year." Unfortunately, their "study" failed to take into account that a city can add the taxes from new development to their budget each year. When this is factored in, taxes paid by residents in Dover have been unaffected by urban renewal.

The IFF release fails to note how residents in Dover HAVE been affected by urban renewal. The fact is the city of Dover receives $30,000 annually from DURA, money that would not be available without urban renewal. The IFF also fails to note that city residents have received $8.3 million in new infrastructure, including millions that the state of Idaho had required of them to upgrade their wastewater plant. That burden would have fallen squarely on the backs of residents without urban renewal. Dover's citizens also have a new city hall and fire station, 800 feet of beachfront and miles of bike trails to enjoy, none of which has cost them a red cent. To suggest they are worse off because of urban renewal is a stretch of the imagination, on any level one wishes to imagine.

Now, a short history lesson. Several years ago an active Hayden senior was watching PBS when she heard the words "municipal bonds." She promptly called her son to catch the rest of the program, which dealt with urban renewal in Portland, Ore. The son acquired a tape of the show and brought it to then Coeur d'Alene Mayor Al Hassell, who directed City Administrator Ken Thompson and staff to bring the matter before the City Council. With that, urban renewal in the city was borne.

And, the active Hayden senior? Mrs. Anna Jo Austin turns 86 this week. Happy birthday, Mom.

John Austin is a former finance director for the city of Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County. He can be reached at john@pacni.org.