Brooks sets stage for county leadership study

Coeur d'Alene — After hinting at possibly changing the county leadership structure, Commissioner Bill Brooks has drafted a resolution to start investigating on the matter.

During the commissioners' status update meeting Monday, Brooks brought up the long-debated topic of changing the board from three to five or seven commissioners. The concept, which has been mulled over in Kootenai County since the 1990s, would look like a city council with an administrative leader.

Resolution 2020-69, proposed by Brooks, would create a commission consisting of approximately nine members to conduct a study on alternative county governmental forms.

"It's not about deciding on an alternative form of government being good or bad," Brooks said. "It's simply to have the discussion about the form of government we now have versus other ones we are permitted to have under state law."

Established in the late 1800s, the current system is one of many options permitted by Idaho Code. Others include adding an elected executive position, a commission manager, adding commissioners and consolidating county officers.

By changing the current three-commissioner system, Brooks also thinks that elected officials will be less likely to be swayed by political lobbying groups.

"People seem to want to have a discussion. Special interest groups don't," he said. "I've gotten a number of emails from them saying don't do this because if we were to change the form of county government, it might dilute whatever influence they feel they have."

The commissioners will vote whether or not to move forward with the resolution in today's business meeting. If passed, Brooks anticipates the study will be spread out over the next 6 to 9 months.

"This is a long-term discussion," Brooks said. "Whatever the citizen commission recommendation is, I believe we will then take another 6 to 9 months for an educational campaign."