WIDMYER: Mayoral excellence

I listened to Steve Widmyer, Coeur d’Alene mayor, speak Friday. As a city resident, knowing what is happening in the city is important for all residents. His presentation was most informative and the question and answer portion afterward was well worth hearing.

Questions were asked both about his presentation and matters of interests to those attending. People asked about taxes, of course, affordable housing, homelessness as a city issue, traffic movement and enforcement throughout our neighborhoods. The mayor answered each question in a forthright manner. He explained that citizens should participate in public meetings and contact the city directly when they wish to voice a concern.

One comment he made concerned how city departments respond. If a concern comes to him, he forwards it to the appropriate department, I assume through the city administrator. This is important because our form of city government is structured in a manner where the professional staff, the administration, work for our elected representatives, the city council.

In some places, many of the department heads are elected, which certainly diminishes the need for them to respond expeditiously to a mayor or council person. Listening to the mayor made me feel that any concerns are addressed quickly and professionally.

Fortunately Coeur d’Alene has a responsive, professional local government with an excellent mayor in charge.

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene