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GOVERNANCE: Let’s talk about it

| March 10, 2021 1:00 AM

Why would people object to a proposed change in our county government? Is our current government so perfect, it can’t be improved?

There are basically four primary forms of municipal government: Strong-Mayor, Weak-Mayor, Commission and Council-Manager. The Kootenai County government structure is the commission form and originated in Galveston, Texas, just after 1900.

In 1960, Galveston changed to the council-manager form. In the council-manager form, the elected council exercises legislative power and appoints a professional manager. The manager is hired and fired by the council. Sixty-two percent of municipalities with more than 100,000 people use this form in the U.S.

The elected council may be five to seven people elected by districts and countywide. This structure provides insulation against potential undue influence by any individual or group. In the Kootenai commission form, there are three commissioners, each holding equal authority. Passing any legislation requires only two votes. A council-manager requires a minimum three to four votes, plus professional expertise from a manager. This creates more public discussion and exposure.

A district within the county has more influence in what their district council person supports. Much more accountability and transparency exists under this form over what we have now.

There will be no study costing $100,000 to end up on a shelf. This is all of us talking, weighing options and deciding what works best for us all. It really becomes a town hall meeting process. Let’s talk, let’s listen and create more responsive government. It’s called Democracy.

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene