RULING: Still waiting for an apology

Here we are over three years later…

Kootenai County Community Planning & Development, run by David Callahan, was forced to acknowledge they were wrong in my variance case which has since been approved. But not before forcing me through a punitive process that cost three times ($25K) what the actual project was supposed to cost ($8K).

But that’s the intention; to make the process for citizens who dare to disagree as punitive as possible. Like placing a violation on my property while I’m working to provide “proof” of the undue hardship.

When I complained, I got a response listing the reasons the county cannot properly do their jobs and that they shouldn’t be held accountable for their missteps primarily because the citizens don’t know what they are doing. How about when the county doesn’t know what they are doing? How exactly is the county held accountable to the citizens when the county’s actions violate ethical norms?

To date, I have received no formal apology from Community Planning & Development for their misguided actions in this matter nor any further follow-up from the BOCC regarding any official review.

Since it’s clear to me that the BOCC will not hold Community Planning & Development accountable for their actions in this matter, I implore the citizens of Kootenai County to vote out the current BOCC and to elect officials who care about the citizens for whom they work.

Until then, the citizens of Kootenai County will continue to pay the high cost of “progress” as county officials continue taking advantage of legal gray area and engaging in “punitive lawfare” without fear of accountability or citizen recourse.

CLAYTON SAPPINGTON

Rathdrum