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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 six? Picture the interlocking links in a chain: Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls, Post Falls/Rathdrum, Rathdrum/Athol, Athol/Hayden, Hayden/Dalton Gardens, Dalton Gardens/Coeur d’Alene

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 CEO/manager who answers to the six elected commissioners representing our communities.

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 elected commissioners and no county manager.

JIM PETERSEN

Dalton Gardens