GROWTH: Memo to schools

I attended the Nov. 5 Lakes Highway District meeting and sat through several growth-related items including the proposed new school for the Coeur d’Alene School District. The meeting in general was well informed and it appears Lakes Highway District has been in the loop for some time, consistently requesting more information. I was surprised to read in Friday’s Coeur d’Alene Press the school was “broadsided” by the permit process from the Lakes Highway District regarding access.

My father served as LHD Commissioner and my mother served on the Lakeland School District School Board during periods of rapid growth. Perhaps the Coeur d’Alene School District should have addressed all access issues “before” the purchase of the land. Who was the Realtor?

Kudos to LHD for using diligence and asking for more information. Prairie Avenue has evolved into an important east-west connector with four lanes of traffic moving at 45 mph connecting Government Way, Highway 95, Highway 41 (soon to be 4 lanes), not to mention Highway 53. Much has been said about growth and the problems (traffic) it brings. It would appear LHD is gathering information and weighing options, in the public’s best interest. Hastily adding additional traffic lights flies in the face of how Prairie Avenue needs to serve our community in the future.

LAURIN SCARCELLO

Rathdrum