Tensions flare at Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting

Discussion over a proposed land deal in the closing minutes of Tuesday night’s Coeur d’Alene City Council meeting turned abruptly contentious, prompting Council Member Dan Gookin to question the transparency of the Council’s acquisition process.

The City is examining a potential land swap with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to acquire a pair of the charity’s properties on East Sherman Avenue in exchange for two city properties on Homestead Avenue and roughly $300,000. Gookin challenged the spontaneity of the deal.

“I thought,” Gookin began, “on the East Sherman thing, we were going to do a more detailed master plan...Because in the last few strategic planning sessions that Council has had, this was not brought up. It seems kind of hasty. It seems that we are looking for a solution to someone else’s problem, and trying to fit ourselves into that solution. The City has listed priorities we have for projects and things that we plan on doing, and it seems to me this just pops up...It’s not part of the bigger picture. It’s not transparent.”

When Gookin further pressed where the $300,000 was coming from, he was told by City Attorney Michael Gridley the funds would be drawn from Coeur d’Alene’s general fund, prompting additional dissent.

“So further,” Gookin continued,” showing a lack of strategic planning, this was not included in the budget. We had a tremendous fight this year over the budget, and we were just told we could not cut one nickel from this budget. Now, all of the sudden, we have $300,000 laying around.”

Mayor Steve Widmyer then challenged Gookin’s comments. “So, Dan,” Widmyer countered, “I get confused, because the word transparent is thrown out a lot, right? Do you have any more detail about what [you mean by] transparent? Because we’ve been talking about East Sherman and revitalizing for a long long time. Was it in the budget? No, but this opportunity came up. Now, we could choose to do nothing, right?”

Gookin began to respond, but Widmyer cut him off.

“I let you talk,” Widmyer said. “I’m talking now. This is an opportunity that came up with St. Vincent de Paul...We’ve been talking about doing something on East Sherman since I’ve been in City government.”

A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 4.