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COUNTY: Reject structure change

| September 2, 2020 1:00 AM

This letter is in response to the Coeur d’Alene Press Editorial of Aug. 28, which endorsed Kootenai County Commissioner Bill Brooks’ desire to add more commissioners to manage Kootenai County and then have those commissioners appoint and employ a full-time administrator who would not be elected by or directly accountable to the citizens of Kootenai County.

If the manager was deemed to be bad for the citizens of Kootenai County, it would likely take removal of a majority of commissioners to replace them, potentially taking years to do so. Additionally, this manager would also appoint positions that are currently elected by the citizens (ex. Treasurer), further creating an unaccountable bureaucracy. This is a horrible idea and has been rejected repeatedly in the past. Furthermore, Mr. Patrick’s statement that adding more positions would “involve no question of overspending” is laughable.

It is possible to allow an increasing number of commissioners without their then appointing an unelected manager. Mr. Brooks has mentioned that the commissioner’s job is very busy and implies it’s apparently overwhelming for him. If Mr. Brooks finds the commissioner position too tiring for him without the inclusion of a manager who is directly accountable to the citizens of Kootenai County, perhaps he should step down and allow someone else to take his position.

RUTHIE JOHNSON

Coeur d’Alene