COMMISSIONERS: Limited by county government structure

I don’t honestly know who should be “blamed” for a misplaced decimal point which certainly has created as a minimum a time delay issue. Apparently several reviews by computer and human beings did not initially detect the error. Mistakes can happen. It is the responsibility of the department head of any department to review the cause and institute ways to prevent similar errors in the future. The Coeur d’Alene Press article implies more of a blame game than a fix it.  

Approximately two years ago, a Kootenai County Government Review Committee was established. Its purpose was to review our county government structure and recommend changes to the Board of County Commissioners for placement on the ballot to be voted on by the citizens of Kootenai County. The initial recommendation was to have certain department heads appointed by the elected commissioners after a regional or national search allowing the commissioners to select the best qualified person. That recommendation was overturned and not placed on the ballot but it is not my intention to rehash it now.

I will say I believe now as I did then, various department heads should be appointed based on their qualifications. The elected county commissioners are then accountable for the good or poor performance by their appointees. Under our current county government structure, the county commissioners are extremely limited in providing assistance to any department.

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene