Post Falls schools are finalizing bond proposal

If everything goes according to plan, the Post Falls School District will ask voters to approve a $10.8 million bond this spring.

At the school board meeting Monday, Superintendent Jerry Keane said he would make a formal recommendation at next month’s meeting for putting items on the May 16 ballot. The proposal will likely include:

•$8 million for a new elementary school;

•$1.4 million to add eight classrooms to the high school;

•$800,000 for land for future schools;

•$600,000 to remodel the transportation building.

Two-thirds of voters would need to approve the bond for it to pass. The bond would put the property tax rate at $1.90 per $1,000 of assessed value – $190 for a $100,000 home. That’s lower than the current rate of $2.09 because the tax base in Post Falls has grown and property values have increased.

– Rasha Madkour

Public meeting today on roadless areas

Kootenai County Commissioners will take public comments today on the management of roadless areas.

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne has asked counties the best way to handle the state’s 9.3 million roadless acres of national forests, including 8,100 acres in Kootenai County. The land is largely off-limits to logging and mining, but that could change following a Bush administration proposal to give states greater control in national forests.

Today’s meeting begins at 2 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 451 Government Way.

Last week, Shoshone County proposed maintaining existing boundaries of roadless areas.

- James Hagengruber

CdA Republican announces Senate run

Ron Vieselmeyer announced his candidacy for the Idaho Senate on Monday with a platform that hasn’t changed much since he was elected a state representative in 1988 – property tax reform and protecting the constitution.

The 65-year-old Republican, who served a single term in the House, said he was asked to run by people who felt state Sen. Dick Compton, R-Coeur d’Alene, was “not in touch” with voters.

Vieselmeyer said one example was Compton’s vote last session against an anti-gay marriage amendment to the state constitution.

“The voice of the people has been so loud,” Vieselmeyer told a crowd of three dozen who gathered for Monday’s announcement. “We know the people want to vote on this issue.”

The family, marriage and crisis counselor said he is concerned about people losing their property due to an inability to pay taxes. He said he supports freezing property taxes, but that more than a Band-Aid solution is needed.

Vieselmeyer, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, said he’s also concerned about health care and financial planning for seniors. He described himself as a “conservative both fiscally and socially.”

“I’m pro-gun for responsible citizens, citizens who are lawkeepers,” he said.

Vieselmeyer is the second to declare candidacy for Compton’s seat. Democrat Chuck Thomas is also running.

– Taryn Broadwater

Public rings in on proposed land sale

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests was deluged Monday with calls about the proposed sale of national forest land.

“We’ve had more calls on this story than anything we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” said spokesman Dave O’Brien, an employee since the 1980s.

The Bush administration has proposed selling up to 309,000 acres nationwide, including 10,000 acres in North Idaho and 1,877 acres in northeastern Washington. That includes at least one Idaho campground and the English Point trail network on Hayden Lake. One man who arrived at the Coeur d’Alene office before it opened Monday said he wants to buy some of the parcels. Other developers called, O’Brien said.

Congress must give its approval before any land is sold. A public comment period begins at the end of the month, when detailed maps will be posted on the Forest Service Web site.

– James Hagengruber