Government study group isn't agency of Satan
"I have heard of a commission that meets regularly on Wednesdays to discuss and outline a plan to put UN-elected officials in place over our voting system and over the city. This is absolute folly … I am also asking for an immediate end to the Wednesday commission, as it is a clear government overreach and communist agenda that is anti-American.” — Wendy Smith, July 13, 2021
"We know that because our good sheriff has committed to protecting our freedoms under constitutional law that a couple of the county commissioners now want an ‘alternative form of government’ where they appoint the sheriff rather than allowing citizens to vote in our sheriff. How dare they!” — Lily Finch, July 14, 2021
"Sixty-six point six percent of the commissioners voted for this commission. 666 is the sign of satan, therefore this commission is doing satan's work. 33% voted against creating this commission. 33 is the sign of Jesus, therefore Jesus opposes the existence of this commission." - Verbal comment
These are actual comments made to and about the Optional Forms of County Government Study Commission. What is this Study Commission and why does it exist?
The Idaho Constitution, as originally formulated, dictated only one form of County Government - three commissioners and six co-equal administrators. Our Idaho Constitution was amended through Amendment #113, approved by the voters, ratified Nov. 8, 1994, adding Section 12 to Article XVIII, providing for optional forms of County Government in addition to the original three-member Board of County Commissioners.
In 1996 the Idaho State Legislature passed into law the Optional Forms of County Government Act, Title 31 Chapters 50 through 58, implementing this amendment. Neither this amendment to the State Constitution and the statutes passed to implement this amendment, nor a commission created in compliance with the Idaho Constitution and Idaho state law, are “communist”, “anti-American”, or a “government overreach”.
In addition, the Study Commission is staffed completely with volunteers and has no budget, costing the taxpayers virtually nothing.
(The statutes can be found at {https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title31/} select chapters 50 through 58)
In accordance with Idaho Statute 31-5101, subsection (1), on May 11, 2021, the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution # 2021-56 authorizing a citizens' commission of nine members to review the options in Title 31 and make a recommendation for one of the allowable forms of county government which the Study Commission believed would best meet the needs of Kootenai County's residents. The Study Commission must file a report by May 2022 identifying and supporting the recommendation. When the project is completed, the Study Commission will disband.
The statutes provide for seven basic forms of government with multiple options within each of the seven, creating hundreds of possible combinations. It is the job of the Study Commission, within the parameters of the Idaho State Statutes, to collect evidence, to review the possible combinations allowed and to recommend one or more forms of government to the Board of County Commissioners.
The majority of the Board of County Commissioners has committed to place the recommended form of County Government upon the ballot. The voters of Kootenai County, not the Study Commission and not the Board of County Commissioners, will decide whether to change the form of County Government or to keep the current form.
The Study Commission is in the process of collecting evidence, taking testimony from people involved in County Government. No deliberation has taken place, nor will it occur, probably for several months, until more testimony is taken from those involved in County Government. The public will be asked to provide testimony to the Study Commission before deliberation begins.
In spite of public opposition to the Study Commission's position to take away the public's right to vote, such a position does NOT exist. Even if a change in the form of County Government were to be recommended, THE VOTERS OF KOOTENAI COUNTY WILL DECIDE.
Please provide comments at any time via email to kcofg@kcgov.us. Every email comment is provided to every member of the Study Commission and will be retained within the permanent record.
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Dave Botting is a Kootenai County Study Commission Member and Chair, speaking personally, not representing the Study Commission or Kootenai County.