Don't be afraid to consider change

Ready. Fire. Aim!

Protesters vehemently objecting to a change in Kootenai County’s form of government before a single recommendation has been embraced is as absurd as claiming fraud in an election even before the election takes place.

Oh, wait. Strike that analogy, because it happened last fall.

Let’s just say that the groundswell of opposition to change is premature.

For decades now, Kootenai County leaders have sought a more effective form of government. County Commissioner Bill Brooks is picking up the torch previously carried by outstanding commissioners like Katie Brodie and Dan Green — leaders of industry who became elected officials and personally experienced the manifold inefficiencies of local county governance.

Green, Brodie and now Brooks have the same goal: To give citizens the best service that roughly $100 million in taxpayer dollars can buy. But in even bringing that mission to the forefront, Brooks is facing fierce opposition from people unwilling to consider change of any kind. That kind of resistance is precisely how swamps are filled: with stagnant, rank waters unstirred by currents of deeper consideration.

Commissioners Brooks and Chris Fillios are determined to see this through and, whatever the people decide — including maintaining status quo — they’ll accept. With plenty of public input, they’ll assemble a citizen panel to explore a number of options allowed by Idaho law, including:

• The commission-executive: governance by an elected board of county commissioners, an elected executive and other officers

• The commission-manager: governance by an elected board of county commissioners, a board-appointed manager and other officers

• The three-member board of county commissioners: present method

• The five-member board of county commissioners: two added commissioners to present method

• A seven-member board of county commissioners: four added commissioners to present method

• Consolidation of one or more offices among two or more counties, with all other offices remaining unchanged

Over the next six months or longer, with full public transparency on display, these options will be analyzed no matter who wishes to turn off the lights on possible improvement. And if this rigorous exercise ends right where it began, citizens can be assured that their current form of government could not be better.