Doellefeld Takes Pride In City Accomplishments But Incumbent Has List Of Things Post Falls City Council Needs To Do

Editor’s note: This is the second of five articles this week on candidates for the Post Falls City Council.

As one of the incumbents in the race for City Council, Joe Doellefeld points with pride to the council’s accomplishments while he has served.

But he has a list of things he’d like to change.

Doellefeld is one of five candidates running for two seats on the council. The top two vote-getters in the Nov. 4 election win.

While Doellefeld has been in office, the council has lowered the tax levy rate, monitored the city’s budget, bought land for the future, expanded the sewage treatment plant and improved parks and roads, he said.

The council also has set aside land for schools in the massive Montrose development, monitored the infrastructure surrounding schools and will allocate $225,000 from the capital improvement fund to help pay for a new library if the library bond passes.

But Doellefeld says that’s not enough.

“We squander a hell of a lot of money in that city,” he said. “For the amount we’re spending, I don’t think we get an adequate return.”

He said the city has too much administration and probably spends too much on single positions.

“Sometimes I think we’re top-heavy,” he said.

If re-elected, he wants to improve the city’s infrastructure, maintain orderly growth, reduce unnecessary spending and operate on a sound budget.

The future of Post Falls is his top priority, he said.

“What’s the most important thing in Post Falls? Our kids,” he said.

“People come to Post Falls for the atmosphere. They want to get away from the inner city. They want to get away from violence. They want to get their kid away from that bad influence at school.”

Doellefeld has repeatedly pushed for joint meetings of the City Council and the school board, but so far he has had no success, he said.

“We’ve just got to get together,” he said. “We’ve got to find out their needs and find out how we can help.”

He wants to preserve the character of Post Falls while allowing for some inevitable growth.

In allowing for that growth, however, he would continue to take into consideration how annexations would impact schools, he said.

When the city annexed the Montrose development, he supported it because the developer allotted land for schools. Montrose will add 1,613 new housing units within Post Falls city limits by 2010 at Chase and Pole Line roads.

As the owner of the Stateline Speedway/Stadium, Doellefeld says his business background sets him apart from other candidates because he’s learned how to survive financially without always having a secure, constant source of income.

“You’ve got people (running for City Council) who were either educators or were in government or in union-protected positions,” he said. “The business guy, he’s got to make his own shakes.”

He’s lived in Post Falls since 1988.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ELECTION NOTES Polling places in Post Falls for the Nov. 4 general election have changed. Voters who live from Idaho Street east will vote at the National Guard Armory at 5555 E. Seltice Way. Voters who live from Idaho Street west will vote at the Odd Fellows Hall at 200 E. Railroad. Eligible voters who have not registered may do so at their polling sites on the day of the election. In addition to the presenting the City Council race, the ballot will include a library bond issue and the mayoral position. Mayor Gus Johnson is running unopposed.