Kootenai County commissioners weigh in on growth, housing

COEUR d’ALENE — More than 100 people gathered Friday morning at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn for the “state of the county” forum presented by the Joint Chamber Public Policy Committee.

Commissioners Leslie Duncan and Bruce Mattare fielded questions from the committee and from the audience on topics ranging from housing and economic development to how to turn down the heat in local political debate. Commissioner Bill Brooks is recovering from surgery and was unable to attend.

When it comes to building more housing, both commissioners said the county’s role is limited, as much of the area’s growth occurs within city limits.

“We’re witnessing a lot of people relocating here from other parts of the country,” Mattare said. “As long as people are willing to move here and pay whatever the market rate is for the properties, there’s little we can do to affect property values for workforce housing.”

Subsidized housing could be an answer. But Mattare said he believes there’s little appetite for such a thing in Kootenai County.

“It ends up becoming politicized over time and then we start picking the winners and the losers,” he said.

Duncan said she’s interested in planning and zoning policy that allows property owners to split their land into smaller parcels, enabling families to live close together.

“We hear a lot of how our kids are leaving,” she said. “That is one planning and zoning we can institute ... that would help keep our kids here and it would actually help our aging population, as well. I know there’s a lot of older folks who came here to retire and they’re going to need some help in their later years.”

One community member asked if Kootenai County needs more apartments.

“Most of the people I speak with say no,” Mattare said.

He said he’d like the county to collaborate with cities to develop a communitywide comprehensive plan that considers how Kootenai County should develop as a whole within the next decade and beyond.

Rather than apartments, Duncan said she’d like to see more townhomes, condos and tiny homes built throughout the county.

“Ownership is what America is based on,” she said. “It’s private property rights. It’s intellectual property rights. It’s all these different avenues that we can use to prosper our families. Instead of apartments, I would like to see homeownership.”

Coeur d’Alene City Councilman Dan Gookin asked the commissioners what the county is doing to promote economic development in the area.

“One of the things that makes housing affordable is having a job where you can afford to have a house,” Gookin noted.

Mattare said he sees little reason for the county to actively invest in economic development.

“I’m not so sure I understand how we have a shortage of jobs,” he said. “In fact, I think there’s a lot of ‘help wanted’ signs out there.”

Much of the area’s population growth is driven by retirees from other states who are flush with cash and were attracted to North Idaho because of the comparatively lower cost of living, Mattare said.

“Finding people who can serve the people who move here is the challenge,” he said.

Duncan said the county can promote economic development by creating policy that encourages businesses to operate in the area.

She noted the county competes with other area employers and is feeling the same pinch that many businesses are experiencing. Raising wages to attract and retain employees is only part of the solution.

“The service industry is still fighting and it’s going to be the people who put the employees first,” she said. “It’s not all about money. That’s super important but it’s also about management and how they’re treated. People will want to work hard for good corporations, good businesses, good mom and pop stores.”

Duncan said Kootenai County residents can help the county thrive by keeping up with local government matters, sharing input with the commissioners and other elected leaders and maintaining civility, even when discussing hot-button topics.

“Don’t listen to respond,” she said. “Listen to understand. As county commissioners, we have to listen to a lot of voices. I’m here to serve you.”