OFFICIALS: Public is watching closely

| January 9, 2011 9:00 PM

This is in response to the Jan. 5 letter to the editor: "Embezzle: Audit upgrades needed." This is a call for the people of Kootenai County to wake up and smell the coffee, tea or whatever it is you smell in the morning.

I will make this short and sweet:

1. Government needs to be accountable; yes, our "small town" elected officials, here in Coeur d'Alene, are considered Government (fact). They should have had checks and balances to catch this immediately.

Complacency; "trust;" "friendship;" whatever, is not an option. Business is business - especially when the struggling taxpayers of Kootenai County are expected to pay their property taxes every year - not to mention their cut of income, sales and federal tax, that the county may benefit from.

Hiring a private company will only cost the taxpayers' more; it will add another layer of possible corruption to the equation.

Elected officials: DO YOUR JOBS!

Thank you; oh, and you ARE on notice.

DANA BELSTLER

Coeur d'Alene