'In discovery mode'

COEUR d'ALENE - Jai Nelson's desk in the Kootenai County Administration Building is completely clear - no photos, no miniature rock garden. Her walls are blank.

After three weeks in office, decorating is the last thing on her mind, she said.

"I've been in on weekends, but more to get my head and arms around what's going on, not to put pictures on the wall," the newly elected county commissioner said on Friday. "I'm in discovery mode."

She typed in her computer to show the daily schedule she has been facing since her swearing-in last month: Large blocks of meeting after meeting, hearing after hearing.

Add to that hours of simply researching the 19 departments the commissioners oversee, and digging into statutes and ordinances to grasp all that her job entails.

"I've met the janitors several times. I ate dinner here last Friday night," Nelson said with a laugh. "I'm on information overload."

There's a lot of explaining to do with two new commissioners in office, and Nelson said she and other newbie Dan Green are doing all they can to keep up.

Most meetings so far are with members of state and federal agencies, county departments and other organizations, Nelson said, who want to present their agendas to the new commissioners.

"For an hour you get focused on what this agency or organization is doing, and get immersed in this area, and for the next hour, you get immersed in another area," she said. "I've loved it. They come in and they have their passion."

Nelson, who preferred not to give her age, is also getting accustomed with the commissioners' judicial roles.

For instance, holding indigent care hearings, addressing requests for aid with medical bills.

Commissioner Todd Tondee must explain the background of each ongoing case, Nelson said.

"We're very appreciative of his telling us the history, the facts that brought it to that point," she said.

Tondee said both commissioners are learning fast.

"It has been a whirlwind first three weeks," he said. "They (Green and Nelson) are asking great questions and trying to understand and learn. It's going to be for the betterment of Kootenai County, and I'm excited."

In between learning the ropes, Nelson said she is getting to work on the changes she campaigned on.

Like opening up communication in the county, she said. She has arranged to meet with county departments at ongoing brown bag lunches to throw around ideas or complaints.

"When we're in the hearing room, it's so formal," she said. "If a department needs another copier, or there are safety issues, things like that can come out at our lunches."

The new commissioners share an interest in improving efficiency, too, Commissioner Green said.

"We're trying to analyze which meetings are necessary. We're finding some that are not," he said. "I'm finding it (being a commissioner) fascinating and frustrating at times."

Nelson is also hoping to expedite the process for requesting indigent care.

"It could save tax dollars," she said.

She wants to put the county's checkbook online for public viewing, too, to increase transparency.

With the same aim in mind, the commissioners plan to go through a public hearing process before hiring a consultant to help implement the Comprehensive Plan, she added.

"We want a process involving the public, involving staff and involving the cities," Nelson said.

She has a few new ideas, too, she said.

The construction of a holding facility for individuals with mental health issues, she said, could take that responsibility off the county jail and juvenile detention.

"It's more than any one agency can handle," Nelson said, adding that she doesn't know yet how much such a facility would cost. "It's being discussed. We're looking for funding."

She has also approached state legislators about changing the law so regular citizens could sit on the Board of Equalization, instead of the county commissioners.

The officials sacrifice several weeks to act as the BOE and consider property assessment appeals, she said. It might be better in the hands of citizens.

"The board could continue on with running the county and day-to-day obligations," she said.

Green said he thinks the idea has merit.

"I think Jai's (idea) is to have experts make that final decision, so it's not potentially a political decision," he said.

With so much on her plate, Nelson said she is grateful to be surrounded by capable county staff and two equally dedicated commissioners.

"Everything is on the table right now. Everything," she said. "We all bring different skills to the table, and we're problem solving. When we've moved as a board, it's been very intentional."