MY TURN: Commissioners should support Citylink
Happy New Year, and a special message for our Kootenai County commissioners ...
During this busy holiday season, I keep worrying about the possibility that our county commissioners might end up not supporting future payments toward Citylink. I think it is essential to continue this free service for Kootenai County residents. Even those who live in a city are still citizens of the county. This fact was pointed out by Dana Silva in a great letter supporting Citylink in the Cd'A Press editorial page Dec. 17. So, I would challenge you to make a New Year's resolution which supports continuation of this important service, especially for many vulnerable people.
I was elected as a county commissioner for Kootenai County in 1985, and a few years later I volunteered to coordinate Idaho Centennial activities. At that time, I was the only commissioner born in Idaho, and the guys were not as interested as I was in promoting this great historical event. When a group from Spokane came over in about 1987 wanting to promote a Two-state Centennial Trail with Washington, I got very excited. Our Centennial Trail Committee members included Doug Eastwood, Randy Haddock, Bob McDonald plus other good folks who felt it would be possible to blaze this wonderful legacy for both states. I worked a lot on fundraising. It was a thrill for me to meet in Speaker of the House Tom Foley's office in Washington, D.C., with Pat Mummy, the lady commissioner from Spokane, to gain his assistance. I later met with Sens. McClure and Symms to help gain their support.
There were some big challenges while we worked on blazing the trail, and I know those who supported it felt blessed when it was finally accomplished. Routing caused a few headaches, but the path kept improving as land through some areas, such as Riverstone, became available. For over 20 years in my retirement, I have been fortunate to live above the Trail out above Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive, and it is heartwarming to see all of the people and families who enjoy using this beautiful segment. I remember many years ago when it was the main alternative form of affordable transportation for those living this way.
My family lived in Boise and Eugene during my husband's career with Albertsons. We enjoyed using the great trail systems in both of those areas, and I felt our people here deserved such a wonderful project. In fact, I actually felt many of our citizens needed the trail as a viable form of transportation. Interest rates were very high at over 15%, and house payments were increased so much that many could not afford a car. (Kind of sounds like today) Some used their bikes to get to work. It would have been great to have Citylink at that time, but it came along later.
As nice as the Centennial Trail is for those who use it, the Citylink system is so much better for our vulnerable people who, because of financial or physical constraints, need a better way to travel around Kootenai County. It would be so wonderful if our commissioners would resolve to support and continue the Citylink system.
Most of you remember just a short time ago that North Idaho College was almost ruined by elected officials at the College that were supported and endorsed by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. It seemed to some of us the goal of KCRCC was to destroy this valuable institution. Did you realize that all current Kootenai County commissioners were also supported and endorsed by KCRCC? I sure hope their goal now is not to destroy another valuable asset for people who live here.
The other problem I would like our commissioners to resolve is to continue working on a way to keep the Bayview dock accessible for our many citizens who use their boats on this part of Lake Pend Oreille in Kootenai County. It is often used for pleasure but is sometimes essential for emergencies on the water. I was so pleased to read in the paper that they have at least amended the termination of the docks lease with Lakes Highway District, adding 60 days that I hope will work out a better lease agreement that would be viable for all entities involved and would benefit many of our citizens, including those that use docks at Bayview, Spirit Lake and Twin Lakes.
Thank you for your serious consideration commissioners. And may everyone, commissioners included, be blessed in the New Year
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Evalyn Adams is a former Kootenai County commissioner (1985 - 1991).