COUNTY: Try 7 commissioners

The volunteer commission investigating alternate forms of government for Kootenai County is making a commendable good faith effort to solve a vexing growth-related problem facing all of us.

Here’s a suggestion worth considering. Rather than five elected county commissioners, how about seven based on population — one for each overlapping jurisdiction: Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene/Hayden, Post Falls/Rathdrum, Post Falls /Hayden, Hayden/Dalton Gardens and Athol/At large.

Yes, six overlapping districts represented by elected commissioners who are forced to learn how to respect one another’s concerns and points of view.

Give the tie-breaking vote — should one be necessary — to a hired county manager who answers to the seven elected commissioners.

Hire a CEO/manager who is capable of running a $200 million a year enterprise. That’s where we are headed — and we aren’t going to get there in good stead with three commissioners and no county manager.

JIM PETERSEN

Dalton Gardens