Winds of change at KMPO

POST FALLS - The county's transportation planning board on Thursday will consider severing ties with a similar group in Spokane for support services and hiring the current executive director of the Washington board.

The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold an executive session during the special meeting at 9 a.m. at Post Falls City Hall to discuss ending its contract with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council for administrative and technical staff services and hiring Glenn Miles.

Miles' four-month extended contract as SRTC executive director ends on April 30. He has been with the organization for more than a decade. KMPO has contracted with SRTC for support services since it formed about eight years ago.

"There has been a lot of discussion about us growing up to the point that maybe we should be off on our own," said Jimmie Dorsey, KMPO chairman who also represents the East Side Highway District on the board.

Miles could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

KMPO consists of representatives from area cities, highway districts, the county, state and Coeur d'Alene Tribe.

SRTC has advertised for a position similar to Miles'. Dorsey said Miles recently told him that he was welcome to apply, but he hadn't.

Dorsey declined to state his opinion about the proposals for Thursday.

"It's the decision of the board, and I don't feel like speaking for the board at this time," he said. "You never know what's going to happen in executive session, and I'd rather not speculate. It's an opportunity for all of us to sit down as a board and ask any questions we have. I'm looking forward to it."

Dorsey said SRTC is undergoing possible structural changes and it's a good time to evaluate KMPO's as well.

KMPO considered making a contract change more than a year ago, but elected to stick with SRTC.

"We did the interviews and felt (SRTC) still did the best service for us," Dorsey said.

KMPO can sever the contract at any time with a 90-day notice.

It's unclear whether SRTC would reduce its staff if it loses its contract with KMPO or if KMPO would bring on support staff for Miles if he's hired.

KMPO has been wrestling with several bi-state concerns in recent months, including pending Census decisions whether to include the entire Coeur d'Alene-Spokane area as one statistical area or keeping them separate. Such decisions play a role in how much funding is distributed and where.

The Kootenai County board has also been dealing with issues such as funding for public transit providers and requesting that county commissioners float a proposal to voters in November that would create a regional public transportation authority, a government agency that coordinates services, monitors how federal grant money is spent and secures funding.