CANDIDATES: Do you support building and zoning regulations?

As a resident of Kootenai County, I am deeply concerned about the recent decision of Commissioners Eberlein and Bingham to vote to allow property owners of Kootenai County to opt out of the building permit process which will hurt all residents whether residing in the county or the cities. Within five years, we will see lowered property values due to sales values dropping in areas with homes that are built without standards and the minimum review by an independent third party. FYI a private inspector is not independent of the person who pays them. Also the fact that developers can now build rental homes and duplexes without safety inspections. How will renters know if a home has been built without safety inspections? This action hurts ALL citizens in our county.

I am sure that if these two commissioners or like-minded are successful in their campaigns to be re-elected, the building code opt out provision will only be the first of many other removals of the protections of the residents. I am asking you as the editor of the Coeur d’Alene Press to ask all commissioner candidates (R, I and D’s) so as to put them all on the record two questions.

1. Are you in favor of a required system of minimum building codes, inspections and certifications or are you in favor of the removal of such systems?

2. Are you in favor of zoning ordinances or are you in favor of removing all zoning ordinances and separation of uses?

Thank you,

ANDY SMITH

Coeur d’Alene