My Turn: History tells story of Hayden law enforcement
Most of us can agree that North Idaho has a lot to offer and in reality, it is like stepping back in time compared to current big cities and blue states that are out of control and lost common sense, that being one of the main attractions to live here.
However; with the increase in migration there is a lack of acknowledgment as to what native residents are experiencing with unwelcomed changes, increased home values, density and cost of living increases.
A typical home here built in 2004 increased 95% in value by 2020 and currently up 288% from its original sales price in 2004. That is hard to swallow when the local wages have not kept up with these excessive increases.
To continue with this topic, one must consider the local governmental positions that are taken over by outsiders with very little knowledge of local history and developments. As most of us know, we live in a conservative state and therefor would believe that the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee would be a reliable source to provide names for various qualified political and governmental position candidates.
One of the KCRCC endorsed candidate, Bruce Mattare, has been the County Commissioner for District 2 for almost four years, he migrated here in 2013.
As commissioner he concluded that Kootenai County was subsidizing the city of Hayden for the cost for law enforcement, even though the fact is the complete opposite. Hayden paid for an Enhanced Law Enforcement Service. As it has been the established procedure for this service from conception in 1971, the details and costs for the ELES agreements have always been negotiated between the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the city of Hayden.
The agreement for the 2026 ELEs was again agreed upon by these parties but nixed by Mattare.
This is a matter of not being aware of local history and development.
Kootenai County was established on Dec. 22, 1864 and formally organized on July 9, 1881. The office for the elected sheriff was also established in 1881. The cities in the county advanced as follows:
CDA incorporated on 8/03/1887, creating the marshal office on 8/29/1887. The position for the first chief of police was not established until 1904. The city of Rathdrum was incorporated in 1881 with the police department established by 1989. Post Falls was incorporated on May 28, 1891 and established a police department by 1971. Spirit Lake incorporated on January 14, 1908 with its own police department by 1974. The remaining cities in the KC; Harrison (1899,) Huetter (1905,) Athol (1909,) Worley (1917,) Hauser (1947,) Hayden Lake (1947,) Stateline (1947,) Hayden (1955,) Fernan Lake Village (1957) and Dalton Gardens (Inc. 1960) have always relied on the KC Sheriff department for law enforcement services from the time these cities incorporated, these services paid for via the property taxes to Kootenai County.
February 3, 1956, the city of Hayden received a bid for $35 for 10 hours of service per week to fill a marshal position, operator to supply his own vehicle and siren, to subsidize the law enforcement provided by the KC Sheriff department. Financial aid was provided by the state for law enforcement training.
This subsidized law enforcement arrangement continued until March 8, 1971 when an agreement was made between the city of Hayden and KCSO, where the sheriff department took over this enhanced service.
The initial cost for this extra service increase, one patrol deputy and the city purchase one vehicle, was $6,000 per year. In October 2016, the additional service for four deputies increased to $273,892 per year, increasing to $285,853 by 2021. In 2021 our city mayor and Sheriff Bob Norris came to an agreement that Hayden would have additional law enforcement available day and night. That increased the cost of this service to $402,354 per year. Bruce Mattare was sworn in as KC commissioner Jan. 9, 2023. On 1/24/2023 the cost for the subsidized service grew to $702,354.
The city of Hayden’s current Enhanced Law Enforcement Agreement is costing our citizens $1,193,933 for this year and that is after the city paid for five patrol cars and provided an additional $300,000 to the sheriff department to hire three additional officers. And Bruce Mattare still thinks Kootenai County is subsidizing the community of Hayden.
• • •
Ray Drexler is a resident of Hayden.