PARKING LOT: OK flaunts county code

Recently a parking lot was approved by the Kootenai County Commissioners AFTER it was built in a residential area to serve some docks on the other side of the road. The land was originally slated to be a storage facility.

The state of Idaho often does the same thing. If someone builds an unpermitted dock or puts in an illegal structure or fill, the state scolds and then grants them a permit AFTER the work is done.

The voters removed two county commissioners and it looks like we need to remove two more. If anyone violates the codes by putting in any structure, parking lot, dock or does work on a lot or dwelling without a permit, that entity should NOT be given a permit. They have broken the law. They should not only be denied a permit but they should not then be permitted to seek any other permit for any other work in the county... ever.

Granting this parking lot a permit sends the message (that has been sent over and over again by permitting agencies) that anyone can do anything they want to and the county or the state will make it right. Well, that is just not fair to all the people who go through the process and get their permits before the work is done.

DONNA HARVEY

Hayden