EDITORIAL: Stop playing games with critical infrastructure

The ongoing saga regarding the public docks in Kootenai County represents a troubling example of how critical public infrastructure can become entangled in bureaucratic squabbles and budget politics. What may appear on spreadsheets as simple line items are, in reality, vital access points that connect communities and sustain local economies.

When the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners abruptly terminated the dock maintenance agreement with Lakes Highway District in January, citing a "proactive effort to reduce expenditures," they overlooked the fact that essential public infrastructure should transcend political bargaining. 

The $25,000 lease payment in question — a minuscule fraction of the county's budget —has created uncertainty for residents, visitors and businesses that depend on these access points at a time when people are booking vacations and planning their trips to North Idaho. 

Particularly concerning is the situation at Bayview, where residents like Gary MacDonald of MacDonald's Resort warned that without reliable dock access, visitors will simply "say that's a nice lake and then go somewhere else." The docks in questions aren’t just about recreational convenience. They’re about economic survival for lake-dependent communities. 

The legal impasse that has developed is equally troubling. Lakes Highway District correctly notes they cannot legally allocate road tax dollars to dock maintenance. Meanwhile, the county's Parks and Waterways Department — which has such authority — seems reluctant to fulfill its responsibility without restructuring agreements. 

Commissioner Bruce Mattare's admission that "we probably could have been a little more proactive on getting the word out and meeting with folks" understates the problem. When essential infrastructure decisions are made without proper stakeholder involvement, communities suffer unnecessary consequences. 

The sentiment expressed by Norma Knowles of the Bayview Chamber of Commerce — that "Bayview feels like the red-haired stepchild of Kootenai County" — should alarm every public official in the region. No community should feel marginalized when basic infrastructure access is at stake. 

Public docks aren't luxury items or political bargaining chips. They are essential infrastructure that enables commerce and maintains quality of life. While budgetary constraints are real concerns for all government entities, the arbitrary withdrawal of services for critical infrastructure points to misaligned priorities. 

 The county and highway district must find sustainable long-term arrangements that preserve these vital community assets without political machinations. 

Our waterways and their access points are shared public resources that deserve stable, reliable management. Anything less is a disservice to the residents who depend on them and the visitors who help sustain our local economy.