Shootout Barn

Joyce Edelfsen's article in the Standard Journal on May 29th, 2010 entitled, "Barn Owner: Cease and Desist," got me to thinking. First of all, it involves the City of Rexburg's Finance Director, and second of all, it fails to mention that others potentially involved in the fiasco are Val Christensen and Stephen Zollinger, the City of Rexburg's Building Official/City Planner, and the City's Attorney, in that order. I beleive if you look into the ownership of the property, it would include Mr. Christensen as a partner. I beleive this was the fiasco that incolved the three listed guys above in meetings dating over two years ago. Joyce would know better.

What disturbs me is that this is apparently an illegal land use invovling a Bed and Breakfast made from a converted barn. The place is listed on a website for rent, according to the article. The article also states the place can house up to 60 people per night. It rents for $800 per night, apparently.

Val Christensen is the Building Official/Planner for the City of Rexburg as I have mentioneed. How does he not know how to follow building codes or land use laws. If he is invovled, this would be akin to a City of Rexburg Police Officer getting pulled over in Fremont County for drunk driving and then claiming that he was not doing anything knowingly against the law. How would he be dealt with as a police officer? I bet the City of Rexburg would fire his behind! Not so with Mr. Christensen, the City of Rexburg probably doesn't even care. I think this speaks to his ability or willingness to follow and enforce building codes and land use codes for the City of Rexburg. Is Zollinger a partner in this Shootout Barn? Has he received any money as part of this process? I don't know, but it would be interesting to find out.

Positive Info: I am exicted for the new Chinese food restaurant to open behind Zions Bank. School is out for the kids. Plants are green and growing. Temps have been mild. This is why we endure the eastern Idaho winters, to enjoy all of this.