Stand by the Kootenai County Comprehensive Plan

Since the beginning process of the development of Kootenai County's new Comprehensive Plan more than three years ago, I have been involved by attending meetings, hearings, deliberations and doing hours and hours of reading and research. Every single citizen in Kootenai County (and beyond), has had the same opportunities and availabilities I did to interact with this important document.

Initially, the county spent thousands of dollars to gather fair and balanced information about what the citizens in Kootenai County wanted for the future of their community. With the Kezziah-Watkins Meetings in a Box, the attendance was not terrific, yet those interested participated. Every community in Kootenai County had these meetings at different dates and times; people had no excuse not to attend except it was their choice. For those who did not get to a meeting, surveys were sent out and the return rate on those was good - again - everyone in the community had the opportunity to have input and to have their voices heard.

Once the results from the Kezziah-Watkins study were tallied, it was clear the majority of citizens in Kootenai County wanted to protect the natural resources and beauty of this area, and direct future growth to areas with adequate infrastructure and services to handle it. It was voiced over and over again to protect the rural areas of our county.

When the Planning Commission began its "workshops" to develop the new plan, again it was open to everyone. Times were vacillated so working folk could come to evening workshops. Those of us who regularly attended these workshops saw the attendance dwindle down to eventually less than a dozen citizens, many of the same faces over and over. Yet - it was open to everyone. To be sure not to make decisions that could not be validated, the Planning Commissioners brought in every agency (local/state/federal) to offer input and data to this plan. Those who chose not to attend missed a terrific educational opportunity to learn about Kootenai County.

Then the Road Shows began, placing the Planning Commissioners all over Kootenai County to answer questions and again, gathering more input from the citizens. Some were well attended, some not. Again, that was an individual's choice. Groups that began to voice concerns about being restricted in where growth could and could not take place were given special audience to the Planning Commission as they took their Road Show to them.

Now deliberations on this Plan are being heard by the BOCC, and as this plan nears anticipated completion, complaints begin to flow from specific special interest groups of Kootenai County. They claim the plan is unfair and not balanced; they claim growth is being discouraged; they claim the plan is too regulatory without basis; they claim they did not have enough voice in this plan. To each of those statements I say BUNK! Where were all those people over the last three years? Where were they when the facts were being gathered to support this new plan? They had every bit as much opportunity to validate their views as those who did attend.

To now even consider remanding this Comprehensive Plan back to the Planning Commission would be a huge mistake. It would tell the majority of people in Kootenai County that their voices don't count. It would suggest the county wasted thousands of dollars on a survey it now will ignore. It would allow this plan to become a political football, instead of the quality growth plan it truly is. It would allow one small segment of our community to dictate to the majority of residents in Kootenai County who followed the process, attended the meetings, offered the input at appropriate times, and had faith in what Kootenai County commissioners had promised - a fair method and a good growth plan to protect our county for future generations. To the BOCC: Stand by your commitment to the process and the persons you represent.

Bev Twillmann is a Harrison resident.