11/19/08 Pioneer vs Caldwell

The Pioneer Irrigation District says the City of Caldwell won't join a mediation effort designed to resole a lawsuit between the city and the district over the dumping of urban store water runoff into Pioneer's canals and drains. Pioneer attorney Scott Campbell was disappointed by the city's response. CAMPBELL "Both sides are going to be spending quite a bit more on attorney fees and experts and all the rest of it until we get to that point. It doesn't seem like a very good expenditure of public monies." Pioneer made the offer of mediation to Caldwell in mid-October following Idaho Water Users Association's statewide Summit on Rural & Urban Water Delivery Challenges. Campbell says more than 160 people attended the summit which he felt created a climate for mediation. CAMPBELL "They did send their attorney and a representative from the Public Works Department but they didn't even open their mouths at the meeting, the summit. The mayor tried to get the summit squelched. Campbell says a trial date has been set in Third District Court for next April but the city of Caldwell is asking for a delay which means it will probably be late next fall or winter before the case is heard in court. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott