WAKES: It’s about the river

This week saw the adoption of Res. 2020-38 adding to the wake restrictions on the county’s waterways. The Commissioners should be thanked for finding a reasonable compromise on this very contentious issue.

It is clear from the meetings Tuesday and Thursday that the vast majority of the problem, and complaints, come from the Spokane River area. Every meeting and every speaker was dominated by the river. Future restrictions should recognize that, and be limited to the river area.

Just because river owners want even more restrictions does not mean lake owners have the same percentage of complaints. River owners would likely find far less public objection to their goals if those goals didn’t also affect all of the other waterways in Kootenai County.

The Spokane River is a limited environment. Its problems, and solutions, should be limited to it too.

RICHARD HARTMAN

Twin Lakes