LAVA HOT SPRINGS — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and a group of state government employees dipped their collective toes into Lava Hot Springs Friday in commemoration of the town’s designation as “Capital for a Day.”

    Approximately 75 people were in attendance at the morning meet-and-greet event at the Community Center, where questions were posed by audience members to Otter and 17 state employees in attendance with him.

    Although Otter’s left arm was in a sling from a recent shoulder surgery, most of the questions were so squarely in the governor’s strike zone that he knocked them out of the park.

    “One observation, Guv,” said Lava resident Robert Rush, after witnessing Otter’s deft handling of his question about possible geothermal development. “I think we would hire you as the salesperson for Idaho.”

    The questions ranged from matters of local interest — developing the local waters as a power source, regional economic stimulus and the future of a bypass of U.S. Highway 30 through the town — to more generic concerns regarding the state’s economic situation.

    “I’m concerned in terms of the economy in our great state,” said one questioner. “I’m concerned in terms of relatively high unemployment numbers. I’m concerned in terms of people struggling. I would really like to hear your take on what the bright spots are for our state.”

    “The most important aspect of any troubling time, responded Otter, “is that we continue to do our best to offer hope, because once you destroy hope, once you destroy possibility of reversing whatever the trouble is, it’s probably a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

    Otter acknowledged 9 percent unemployment, which he said is troubling.

    “I don’t like the idea that 67,800 Idahoans don’t have a job,” he said.

    Otter highlighted his Project 60 plan to increase Idaho’s gross domestic product from $51 billion to $60 billion.

    “My thought is no different then when I was working for the J.R. Simplot company,” he said. “If we can drive those sales sufficiently high enough, then the cost of each unit we produce goes down. If we can drive our economic activity to $60 billion, then we’ll collect $3 billion off of that same tax base without raising taxes.”

    In answer to a question about development of geothermal energy — something Lava Hot Springs has in apparent abundance — Otter noted the state already has a 17-megawatt geothermal plant transmitting in Raft River.

    “We do have the expertise,” he said. “We probably have more hot water under Idaho than any state in the continental United States.”

    He noted that, although 60 percent of Idaho’s power comes from hydroelectric, the state still imports 40 percent of its power needs. He emphasized the development of geothermal, wind and solar power generation for the state to become energy independent.

    State Sen. Bob Geddes put forth a popular local sentiment to ask the state’s help in negotiating with the Union Pacific Railroad in the planned construction of the bypass completion around Lava.

    Geddes noted approximately half of the total estimated $108 million project involves overpasses to allow the line to remain in its present location.

    “It would be ideal if we had the support of your office to approach the railroad,” Geddes said. “The ideal thing, in my opinion, would be to have the railroad stay north of the highway to avoid the cost of building those two expensive overpasses. It would also minimize a lot of safety concerns as that railroad virtually goes through the small community of Lava.

    “When you’re cutting the ribbon for the new hot pool this afternoon, you’ll be directly below the railroad, probably one of the most ... potentially dangerous situations on the entire main line of the Union Pacific Railroad and that’s the 30 mph curve that goes right directly above the hot pools.”

    Geddes proposed that the railway move north with the bypass or that Union Pacific pay for the overpasses, a suggestion that drew applause from the audience.

    “Whatever talent, whatever ability, whatever resource we’ve got, we will in full help the railroad make that decision in Lava’s favor,” Otter replied. “Count on me. I’m on your team.”

    As the proceedings broke for a Chamber of Commerce-sponsored lunch, musicians Mark Morgan and Dave Grosso broke into a slightly reworked Doors classic, Riders on the Storm, to Otter’s delight:

    It’s capital for a day

    The Guv is here to stay

    Take him by the hand

    Make him understand

    The world on you depends

    Don’t tax the lower end

    Gotta love this man