AIRPORT: Seeking a better direction

Many thanks for the well-written reportage on the Coeur d’Alene Airport by Jeff Selle, David Cole and Mike Patrick (to name a few) over the past month. I have been rereading those articles since the dismissal of Greg Delavan as airport manager, and suspect the “new direction” may be found in the last paragraphs of Jeff Selle’s “Positives for Panhandle Area Council.” Since Greg Delavan is so highly regarded by all the candidates for, and those serving as, Kootenai County Commissioner, I would hope that he winds up but two weeks unemployed, and we see him back at work Nov. 10.

Given the increases in population, regulation, and expansion of facilities and services, I agree with Bruce Noble’s proposal to reorganize the county commissioner form of government by going to five part-time commissioners elected by geographic district, with a full-time county manager. This would also allow for each commissioner to develop knowledge in a particular area of operations: airports, roads, parks and waterways, emergency services, utility services, and others. Kootenai County has grown beyond the capability of only three people to “keep the balls in the air” and having part-time commissioners should prevent their “burn-out.” As suggested in the newspaper insert, let’s get this conversation started in the next year, regardless of who’s been elected.

As I was taught, government operates on a basis of hearing all arguments, selecting the best of each, and providing a “win” for everyone, not just one. It’s time we got back to this art of argument, and find remedies to our problems of administration and governance.

CHARLIE BRANCH

Coeur d’Alene