Kennedy: Let's wait 'til the new guys get here

By TOM HASSLINGER

It's not getting shoved through.

In fact, before the Coeur d'Alene City Council takes up McEuen Field again, it should wait until new members take their seats, City Councilman Mike Kennedy said.

It would be prudent to wait for Dan Gookin and Steve Adams to become council members in January before the body tackles anything to do with McEuen Field again, he said late last week.

"People spoke this week and we have two new council members, so we'll see where it goes," Kennedy said Friday.

Kennedy said after the election - which ushered in three pro-McEuen advisory vote candidates - he began hearing concerns that the current commission would "ram" something through with the park to beat the changing of the guard.

Not happening, he said. The council would be better served waiting until the new guys are seated.

While Kennedy said he still doesn't favor the vote, the council should revisit the conceptual plan on a whole.

"I think going back to the plan in light of the election only makes sense," he said. "But at the same time, I'm not wanting to get rid of 12 months - actually 20 years - of citizens' hardwork."

Mayor Sandi Bloem, Councilman Woody McEvers and Deanna Goodlander also said last week they still don't favor a public vote.

But nothing is getting green-lighted on the fast track: The new park won't crop up tomorrow.

The plan could get revisited even.

"This election may very well change the direction we go in," Goodlander said Friday. "Am I favor of a vote? No, I'm not. I think that's our job (as a city council to vote on park creation), but I think you have to listen to the people."