County, city closer to solving property anomaly

It's been 31 years since the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and jail have been on county property. They reside in the city of Coeur d’Alene.

That could change soon despite an objection from the sheriff.

Without a formal vote, county commissioners said Monday they’re in favor of de-annexing the properties from within Coeur d’Alene city limits, including the juvenile detention and work release center.

The Coeur d'Alene City Council must also vote on the proposal, which would put the county facility solely on county land for the first time since 1985.

County Building and Grounds Supervisor Shawn Riley said county officials recently met with the city officials to discuss the potential move.

A date for the City Council to make a decision has not been set, but the city administrative staff approached the county in July about de-annexing the land.

"All the wheels are in motion now," Riley said, "We just need to tidy up the paperwork."

The sheriff's office and the jail are managed by sheriff's employees, but since the facilities are on city property, Coeur d'Alene Police Department officers are responsible for responding to incidents at the county jail.

According to Coeur d'Alene Police Chief Lee White, Kootenai County is the only county in Idaho where city police handle incidents — namely inmate fights and drug smuggling — at a county jail. City police responded to 226 calls at the county jail in 2015.

With an approved de-annexation and a proposed $12 million jail expansion, city officers would be exempt from responding to incidents at the county facilities.

The county would also have to have an agreement with the city to use the utilities.

"Now that this would be all county property, if we decided to expand, we wouldn't have to annex the property," Riley said. "And the county wouldn't have to pay for a building permit from the city. The commissioners would waive the fee and save taxpayers money."

Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger isn't so keen on the idea, though.

Wolfinger believes de-annexation would be in direct violation of Idaho statute 31-2009, which states the sheriff's office must have its offices at the county seat. The county seat is the city of Coeur d'Alene.

"Case law in both Washington and Virginia state 'at the county seat' means in the county seat," Wolfinger said. "De-annexation of the sheriff's office would be in violation of the law."

That wasn't the sheriff's only gripe.

"I have some concerns about lack of city services to the sheriff's office and jail and what long-term costs may come up as we move forward," Wolfinger said.

Riley said there hasn't been any pushback on the de-annexation proposal other than Wolfinger's.

"The county and city think it seems like a good fit for everyone," Riley said. "But the sheriff opposes it."