NEW THIS MORNING: Thursday, September 5
Linsey Vaughn chats with customers looking to purchase an adult beverage at the 5th Street Farmers Market on Wednesday.
BILL BULEY/Press
1. Coeur d'Alene farmers market begins selling beer, wine
Beer and wine were available for the first time at the market after the Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday night approved a resolution for the Downtown Association to try a pilot project allowing possession of open containers of beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages.
It was narrowly approved, with Councilmembers Christie Wood and Dan English voting no, while Dan Gookin, Kiki Miller and Amy Evans voted yes.
2. English elected new Coeur d'Alene council president
Dan English was elected president of the Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday, but it wasn’t a slam dunk.
English was nominated and confirmed for the post by a 4-1 vote to replace longtime Councilman Woody McEvers, who was sworn in as mayor at the same meeting. McEvers took the place of Jim Hammond, who previously resigned to move near family in Colorado.
While councilmembers Dan Gookin, Christie Wood, Amy Evans and English voted for English, Kiki Miller voted no.
3. Sheriff warns of current scams during event in Coeur d'Alene
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris held a Community Conversation event to discuss end of summer season statistics, as well as local scams Wednesday.
Norris reported that from Memorial Day to Labor Day, there were no vessel-related deaths, critical injuries or vessel-on-vessel crashes on Kootenai County waterways — a notable statistic, as Kootenai County lakes and rivers see the busiest summers in the state.
4. Post Falls pumps brakes on discussion of deferred impact fees
The Post Falls City Council has postponed a decision on changing how impact fees are collected for affordable housing projects.
The proposed change would defer impact fee collection for homes aimed at buyers earning up to 120% of Kootenai County's median income. For rental properties, the deferment would apply when at least 25% of units are reserved for tenants earning 80% or less of the median income.
Currently, impact fees are collected as part of the construction process. The change would delay collection until a certificate of occupancy was issued.