Officials square off over transit center

Kootenai County’s transportation director squared off with County Commissioner Bill Brooks on Monday concerning public comments the commissioner made about the new $2.16 million transit center in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone development.

Jody Bieze, who heads the county’s transportation services, took issue what she called “disparaging” remarks by Brooks against her employees.

Brooks, meanwhile, said he would pursue gathering information on the transit center — including grants, budgets and designs — to better understand why the 2,600-square-foot building has no public access.

“I just want to understand, and I want the people of Kootenai County to understand, how this morphed into what it is today,” he said.

But Bieze, as well as commissioner Chris Fillios, said the transit center was exactly what it was always supposed to be.

“The center has been an approved project by every board (of commissioners) that it has come before over a 14-year process,” Bieze said. “It was never going to be intended for the public to go inside.”

In an article in Sunday’s Press, Brooks voiced frustration over the lack of public access and fact that the building houses only transit employees. “It’s not a transit center, it’s a bureaucratic center,” the commissioner was quoted saying.

That raised Bieze’s ire.

“You shouldn’t have the privilege to use the platform of the media to disparage a staff,” she said.

Brooks countered.

“I don’t know who’s disparaging staff,” Brooks said, “but I think that’s a very low blow on your part, Jody, because nobody’s disparaging staff.”

Fillios said his colleague’s concerns had no merit.

“Maybe you didn’t understand the mission of the transit center,” Fillios said. “And if you hadn’t, it’s no wonder you’re not impressed.”

Although several concerns have been raised about the transit center, the primary objection has been that the public is not allowed inside.

Transit employee Amber Conklin said part of the reason the doors were locked was because confidential paratransit files were kept inside.

“Files like that belong in a locked file cabinet,” Brooks said. “It’s the file cabinet that should be locked, not the transit center.”

Bieze pointed out that many county offices — including the commissioners’ — are locked to keep the public from freely entering.

Brooks and other riders have also raised the issue that the new facility does not include an enclosed shelter for Citylink riders.

Commissioner Leslie Duncan joined Bieze and Fillios in informing Brooks that an indoor shelter was never the plan.

“I did not support the transit center,” Duncan said. “However, I did do my best to educate myself. And never once was it intended for the public to have an indoor shelter.”

Bieze emphasized the crucial service Citylink provides for thousands of riders each month.

“It’s a very big deal for Kootenai County,” she said. “The bus service is highly used in education, health services, recreation opportunities and jobs.”

Bieze said managers at the Stateline Walmart have asked that Citylink service be extended for its employees. And Walmart is not the only business interested in bus service.

“We’ve had 19 other letters from employers that have asked us to jump in and provide additional service,” Bieze said.