COUNCIL: Vote no for zone change

Wednesday, June 11, the Rathdrum City Council met to see if Hayden Homes had corrected their proposal to change the zoning from industrial to residential zone. Their 240-page proposal now includes an addition to correct the traffic problems at the Railway/Lancaster intersection which would result by building 500 homes on the Arestad property at Boekel and Meyer Road. This is but a small effort for an enormous problem that looms in the future if this proposal passes.

The Hayden Homes’s attorney found it necessary to silence one city council member by bringing accusations that John Hodgkins had some “ex-parte action” issues. Interesting that an article in the Institute for Local Government entitled, “The Ethics of Speaking One’s Mine” gives local city council members the freedom to communicate their views when it is to help their community. The council had heard 3+ hours of reasons why this building proposal is not a good one for Rathdrum at the May 15 city council meeting. The vote for the proposal was negative last month.

On what basis should John Hodgkins have to recuse himself on the future vote June 25? If John needs to recuse himself, the Rathdrum City Council Attorney may need to recuse herself from further comments at the city council meetings because of her noted favor to Hayden Homes organization after the vote at the April city council meeting.

How sad it is that the City Council members have to vote under the fear of Rathdrum being sued by Hayden Homes if they do not vote for the zone change that they want. This is not a new tactic for contractors bullying their way into a town. No wonder some will reverse their initial vote on May 15. Many of us in Rathdrum hope that our city council members will stand firm on what they know is right for community on June 25.

DIANE WINSLOW

Rathdrum