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Get your facts straight, Commissioner

| May 9, 2018 1:00 AM

Maybe this means we’re in the big time.

I’ve been publicly accused of peddling “fake news.”

Yes, in exactly those words.

Marc Eberlein, District 1 county commissioner who is running for re-election, tossed that now-popular “fake news” grenade during a forum in Athol with challenger Bill Brooks and other county commissioner candidates.

How ironic, since I can tell you with absolute certainty that Eberlein is currently selling “fake facts.”

For instance, the commissioner is leading us down the garden path when talking about Coeur d’Alene Airport, and whether or not the county should get into the business of fuel and hospitality on that property.

In an opinion piece published April 28 in The Press, Eberlein made it clear that it would be silly for the county to get into the fuel business at the airport — despite plenty of indications that airport management had its eye on purchasing Southfield Aviation, one of just two fixed base operations (FBOs) at the airport.

The commissioner wasn’t wishy-washy about leaving those operations in private hands, either.

He said that government taking over an FBO would be the equivalent of the county operating a gas station.

No chance.

No reason to do it, period.

Except ...

Steven Kjergaard, the airport manager who was hired with Eberlein’s enthusiastic blessing about a year ago, believes the commission is supportive about running everything at the airport — and that Eberlein had to be good with that from the start.

“When I was hired, our goal was to make the airport self-sufficient,” Kjergaard said. “So we have to look at every possible revenue source — like leasing property when we have that opportunity, and obviously our plans included taking over the fuel business.

“It just makes sense, and it presents the airport in a better light if we’re doing everything. The commission agreed with the long-term plan, and that also involved a $12-15 million building for the fuel and hospitality business.”

OBVIOUSLY, if the commissioners are on board with the objectives Kjergaard continues to outline and pursue, Eberlein has confused the issue with that opinion piece he wrote for the paper.

You can’t campaign on the promise that the two FBOs (the other is Resort Aviation) will remain private, and at the same time be telling your airport manager that you’ll find the money for a snazzy building to sell fuel and greet VIPs.

Of course, it’s possible Eberlein has changed his mind about the future of the airport.

In any case, one of Eberlein’s “positions” is not true. Hollering about fake news is a great way to avoid explaining any contradiction.

Mr. Commissioner, if your position about fuel business at the airport remaining private is locked in place, then why is Kjergaard convinced that your long-term plan is just the opposite?

By the way, this discussion of Eberlein’s shifting opinions has nothing to do with the election coming up.

I’m not endorsing anybody.

But I think Kootenai County taxpayers deserve to learn about plans for their airport.

Kjergaard is a serious guy, who came here to do a serious job.

Are you still supporting his plans, Marc?

If so, you need to make it clear.

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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press. A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com.

Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA