Dalton Gardens gets final council member, looks ahead to city projects

DALTON GARDENS — Almost three months after a recall election threw its city government into turmoil, Dalton Gardens will seat its final council member this week.

Longtime Dalton resident Kenneth Egbert, 72, will be the fourth council member on a city body that was fragmented after a recall election prompted by a citizen group. The group was upset about an alleged backroom land deal, as well as residents who felt they were not apprised of a $4 million street-improvement project.

Egbert said he wanted to join the board in an effort to get the city moving in a positive direction.

“I want to help get Dalton Gardens reunified from the unfortunate position it’s in because of the recall,” Egbert said.

Egbert, who has lived in Dalton Gardens for 27 years, retired as an IT administrator from Spokane Public Schools and later from a contracting business he ran with his son for almost a decade.

He was among candidates for the mayoral opening that was created when former Mayor Steve Roberge was recalled. Roberge was replaced by current Mayor Jeff Fletcher, who will formally appoint Egbert at Thursday’s City Council meeting.

Fletcher said his choice has knowledge of city issues coupled with an administrative background and experience working on boards.

“He’s a good fit to work together and get some of these issues solved,” Fletcher said.

Being retired, Egbert said, allowed him the time to actively work with his community.

“I’m in a position where I wanted to give something back,” he said.

Egbert’s appointment follows that of council member Tyler Drechsel, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Little this spring.

When the full council convenes later this month, Fletcher said it would begin to look at some of the issues that have been on the back burner since the March recall.

One of those issues is a divisive Fourth Street improvement plan that was roundly rejected by homeowners living along the major north and south street that bisects Dalton Gardens, a community of about 2,500 residents sandwiched between Coeur d’Alene and Hayden on the east side of U.S. 95.

Fletcher said the council will readdress the Fourth Street improvement plan and keep residents involved in the process.

“We need to look at what the opportunities and options are,” Fletcher said.

The city’s March 12 special election drew a turnout of more than 60 percent of the city’s approximately 1,600 registered voters. It resulted in the recall of Roberge, the city’s longtime mayor, as well as council members Joe Meyers and Denise Lundy.

Egbert is out of town and will not attend the 6 p.m. Thursday meeting at City Hall. He will take the oath of office at a later meeting.