Bayview brouhaha
<p>Bayview Water and Sewer board member, Don Gardner, speaks to members of the community after many interruptions slowed the progress of swearing in two new members to the board, Sharon K. Meyer and Stephen May, on Tuesday. The board also addressed regular topics regarding water and sewage in Bayview, ID.</p>
<p>Robert Hammell points to the code of conduct for the Bayview Water and Sewer board while arguing with board members during a meeting in Bayview on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Roughly 40 people filled the small office of Bayview Water and Sewer for a meeting to swear in two new members on Tuesday.</p>
BAYVIEW - Approximately 50 people packed into a mobile home - the offices of the Bayview Water and Sewer District - for the swearing in of new board members Tuesday.
Temperatures and tempers rose quickly inside as May 19 election winners Sharon K. Meyer and Stephen May were sworn in - but not election loser Chuck Murray.
Some district board members had planned to swear in Murray to fill the vacancy created by board chairman Chuck Waller's death on July 4.
Numerous district customers were in an uproar over the board's selection of Murray during a July 8 "emergency meeting" to the five-member governing board.
District residents believed Meyer and May should have had some say in who should replace Waller.
"The people of Bayview are sick and tired of this thing being run like a family business," Herb Huseland, a 20-year resident of the community who writes a blog called Bay Views, told The Press prior to the meeting.
"There was nothing fishy with what we did," Murray said during the meeting. "As all of you know, no matter what job that you've had, there's always gray areas sometimes. Sometimes you just can't follow every nitpicking thing."
He said he accepted the appointment on July 8 because he felt he could continue to do a good job serving the district.
"I really feel that at this time, to get a third inexperienced person in here would be difficult," Murray said.
Meyer and board member Don Gardner said Waller's replacement must be selected by Aug. 4. Murray and others in the district may now seek the appointment.
Gardner and board member Marsha Ritzheimer were present at the July 8 meeting, along with Murray and Kim Mattern, who also lost in the May election.
They chose Murray for the vacancy.
Murray didn't vote on any district business during Tuesday's monthly meeting. He did, however, stay seated throughout the meeting with the board members.
"I was not notified of a meeting in July," Meyer complained.
"That's correct," responded Ritzheimer, the current chair of the board. Ritzheimer told The Press there was no public notice.
"So the emergency meeting that was held was not in compliance with the code, and it would be null and void," Meyer said.
May told The Press prior to the meeting "that the state election process has been corrupted by these people, yet again."
After May asked to see a show of hands of audience members who might be interested in the appointment, Gardner fired back.
"You can't solicit," Gardner said. "They're persona non grata here."
District system operator Neil Peck threatened to eject two people from the meeting after telling one of them to "shut up." No public comment was scheduled for the meeting.
"No I'm not a member of the board, but I'll throw you out - and you out, if I have to," Peck shouted.
"If you were at a Kootenai Electric (Cooperative) meeting right now you would have been escorted out," Gardner told an audience member. "You cannot comment. It is not proper procedure for these types of meetings."