WRAP UP ON ISCC SHOWER TRAILER ISSUES OF 2022-2023
In January, 2023, I posted an article on this site titled ISCC PROVIDES MISINFORMATION TO NEWS MEDIA LOOKING INTO DECREPIT CONDITIONS IN THE PRISON. In March, 2023 I authored and posted another piece titled IDAHO TAXPAYERS PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SHOWER TRAILERS WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN USED. In October, 2023 I followed up with yet another piece titled ISCC 'SHOWER TRAILERS' FINALLY REMOVED, ALONG WITH $184,708.62 OF TAXPAYER MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN.
In a nutshell, these articles concerned self-contained showering trailers that were dragged to the Idaho State Correctional Center from Nevada because the hot water system at the prison (i.e., boilers) had gone down, leaving the main section of the facility without hot water for showers, washing and other necessities. These trailers sat, unused, at the ISCC for more than 9 months, while the payments continued to accrue.
Shortly after I posted the last article on this topic, I received an email (within hours in fact) regarding the shower/shower trailer subject. In that email, a reporter named Kevin Fixler with the Idaho Statesman provided me a copy of a piece he had written on the subject back in December, 2022 (https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article270550122.html). I do recommend reading that piece.
Seemingly in response to my last article, Kevin explained that he too had questioned matters surrounding the source/use of funds used for the unused shower trailers, but that based on various factors, he did not feel the issue had the "heft necessary... to feel confident in the purpose behind reporting it for a general Treasure Valley readership." Kevin's pieces however are designed to reach a specific demographic through a commercial enterprise - not so with idahoprisonblog.org.
Kevin also speculated that the reason for IDOC keeping the trailers on-site might have been to ensure hot showers were available in the event the repaired boiler(s) went down again. A valid speculation, so I looked into that...
In a recent public records request, I asked the IDOC to provide records reflecting the date the newest of the boilers was installed and became operational. In their response provided to me on 12/22/23, the replaced boiler was brought online on 9/26/23 by an Idaho business contracted by a company based in Lebanon, Tennessee. According to the paperwork, the start-up of the boiler was not even requested until 8/18/23.
Based on the paperwork, it seems Kevin was correct - the IDOC waited until the new boiler was online before the shower trailers were sent back to Nevada. He was also correct (unfortunate as it is) in opining that absent someone in government or a state taxpayer advocacy group asking questions about the funding and other matters surrounding the boilers/shower trailers, definite answers are probably not forthcoming. What is not clear is why it took the better part of a year to replace a boiler that the IDOC KNEW had failed multiple times the year before it finally gave up the ghost.
As far as the shower trailer matter not having the heft for a Treasure Valley readership, it's a good thing that the idahoprisonblog.org is read by people all over the state of Idaho, the United States, even the world. It is for that reason I report things that some might consider not worth reporting - because it only takes one person to take an interest in an issue to make things better.
Besides, in addition to friends and families of Idaho prisoners, there are a number of 'influential' people and organizations (administrators, legislators, 'watchdog' groups and others) who can influence policy/law - local, state, federal and foreign - who regularly read articles posted on this site.
So, if even one person, be it in Kuna, Idaho, the state capitol building, a small village somewhere in rural South Africa or elsewhere finds these pieces helpful, insightful, informative - or even amusing - they're worth writing.
Happy Festivus 2023!
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